The NHL is investigating former Panthers GM Dale Tallon for allegedly using racial slur
The NHL has opened up an investigation into Dale Tallon after the former Florida Panthers general manager allegedly used a racial slur while with the team in Toronto for the expanded postseason earlier this summer.
Both the NHL declined to comment on the investigation, although a league spokesperson did confirm the NHL is “looking into the matter.” The Panthers did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
FloridaHockeyNow.com first reported the investigation, which stems from an accusation the GM used racial slur while representing the team inside the league’s Ontario secure zone. Neither the league nor the team offered any clarity as to when the language might have been used, and what exactly Tallon might have said.
Florida fired Tallon on Aug. 10 after the Panthers lost to the New York Islanders in the qualifying round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. It’s not clear whether the team was aware of the accusation when they fired Tallon. In 10 years with Florida, Tallon led the Panthers to the traditional 16-team playoffs just three times and Florida never won a playoff series.
The NHL is currently partaking in its most substantive protest regarding racial injustice. The league postponed all Cup playoff games Thursday and Friday following the police shooting of Jacob Blake, who is Black, in Wisconsin on Sunday.
On Wednesday, the Milwaukee Bucks decided to boycott and sit out an NBA playoff game against the Orlando Magic, leading the league and the National Basketball Players Association to postpone all games through Friday.
Players across the NFL, MLB, NHL, Women’s National Basketball Association and Major League Soccer have all participated in some sort of strike this week. The Panthers, whose season ended Aug. 7 with a 5-1 loss to the Islanders in Canada, put out a statement on Twitter on Thursday regarding the protests, standing in solidarity with the rest of the league.
Tallon, 69, had a long career in the NHL before arriving in Florida in 2010. He played 10 seasons in the NHL with the Vancouver Canucks, Chicago Blackhawks and Pittsburgh Penguins, and was twice an All-Star defenseman.
After retirement, Tallon became a broadcaster in Chicago, serving as a radio and television analyst for the Blackhawks. He joined Chicago’s front office as the director of player personnel in 1998, became assistant general manager in 2003 and took over as the Blackhawks’ GM in 2005.
He helped build the foundation for Chicago’s dynasty, but the Blackhawks demoted him in 2009. Chicago won the Stanley Cup in 2010, 2013 and 2015, and Tallon has a ring from the 2010 championship, even though he left for South Florida before the Blackhawks won the title.
This story was originally published August 28, 2020 at 2:13 PM.
