Recently, Moneyline reported on the findings of an NHL player poll conducted by The Athletic, which surveyed 111 anonymous players on various topics. Players expressed their sentiments regarding several aspects of the league, including their preferences for coaches and opinions on teams. Notably, the Winnipeg Jets were identified as the team that players would prefer to see at the top of their no-trade list, receiving 48.7 percent of the votes. Conversely, Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper emerged as the coach players expressed the strongest desire to play for, with 23.5 percent favoring him.

In a contrasting viewpoint, Philadelphia Flyers head coach John Tortorella was overwhelmingly identified as the coach that players would least like to play under, garnering 38.4 percent of the votes. Remarkably, Las Vegas Golden Knights head coach Bruce Cassidy followed as a surprising runner-up, capturing 12.3 percent despite leading his team to a Stanley Cup championship during the 2022-23 season and ongoing playoff appearances. One anonymous player commented on Cassidy, stating, "I haven't heard too many good things about the Vegas coach, Cassidy. I don't really know him that well, but I haven't heard anything good about him."

When it came to training facilities, the Detroit Red Wings were recognized for having the best accommodations for visiting teams, with 24.5 percent of the votes. This placed them narrowly ahead of the Seattle Kraken at 21.88 percent and the Edmonton Oilers at 20 percent. Players noted the appeal of newer arenas such as Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, and Rogers Place in Edmonton. In stark contrast, the Carolina Panthers were deemed to have the worst facilities, capturing a striking 65.7 percent of the votes. As one player succinctly put it, "The visiting room sucks," while commenting on the inadequate conditions of the home team’s facilities. The poll also touched upon the idea of a potential in-season tournament, similar to the recent initiative implemented by the NBA. A majority of 54.5 percent of players opposed the concept, with some describing the NBA Cup as "gimmicky" and "corny," although others recognized its advantages, such as generating extra revenue and fostering fan engagement.

Interestingly, 58.3 percent of players felt that the current 82-game season was not too lengthy. Nevertheless, there were numerous sentiments about the need to shorten the preseason, and several players expressed concerns regarding the league's perceived lack of focus on player safety amid discussions of potentially expanding the number of games to 84. One player highlighted Gary Bettman's inclination for expansion: "Sounds like Gary wants to expand even more. We have to add more games. Is it too long? Is it very long? Yeah. Especially for the grind of hard skating and how much toll it takes, the physicality. You look at basketball: They do significant load management for their big guys. They jog around half the game and fire up a couple threes while managing their loads, which is wild compared to our grind through 82 games. The mentality around shot-blocking and physical exertion isn't even in the same stratosphere." This comment underscores the players' broader concerns regarding safety, emphasizing the unique challenges faced in the NHL.