The NHL had placed a ban on the rainbow-colored tape to open the 2023-24 season.

After placing a ban on Pride Tape to open the 2023-24 season, the National Hockey League is taking a step back and will reinstate different colored tape to support social causes.

The NHL, NHLPA and NHL PLayer Inclusion Coalition announced that the league will allow players to use any colored tape they want to represent social causes, whether it be the rainbow Pride Tape to represent the LGBTQIA+ community or the Hockey Diversity Alliance's tape to combat racism.

The reinstatement comes after Arizona Coyotes defenseman Travis Dermott used Pride Tape in the team's home opener despite the possibility of fines. Multiple players have also spoken out against the NHL's decision, including Connor McDavid, Zach Hyman and Philadelphia Flyers forward Scott Laughton, who planned to use it anyway.

Washington Capitals defenseman Trevor van Riemsdyk and goaltender Darcy Kuemper also voiced their support for the tape and "Hockey Is For Everyone" cause despite the NHL's decision.

Van Riemsdyk, who is the team's "You Can Play" ambassador, also praised Dermott and said that he had been brainstorming ways to get around the ban and still represent the LGBTQIA+ community this season.

"That was a nice gesture by him. With everything that's been going on, it's nice that he did something like that," van Riemsdyk told Brandon Alter, who contributed to this report. "Obviously, with all the eyes towards it, it gives it even more of a spotlight when he does something like that.

"I think to a lot of guys, [a fine] might not even be anything holding them back. We're figuring out something that's meaningful, that could send the message in the right way that we're here for everyone."

Commissioner Gary Bettman had already done away with different warmup jerseys for specialty nights, including Pride Nights, after players last season had boycotted the pregame skates due to not wanting to wear Pride jerseys. Bettman had called it a "distraction" from the main cause, and teams are no longer allowed to wear any different jerseys for warmups on specialty nights, including Pride Night, Hockey Fights Cancer Night and Military Night.

Now, it appears Pride Tape will be back in the mix for Pride Nights. Washington has given players the option to wrap their sticks.