Warning: Story contains coarse language
The NHLPA issued a pointed response Sunday to Jim Lites' profane criticism of Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn, implying the existence of a double standard and questioning the Dallas Stars CEO's professionalism.
"The comments Jim Lites made regarding Tyler and Jamie are both reckless and insulting," the union said in a statement, according to Stephen Whyno of The Associated Press. "If players directed such comments towards management, how would those be regarded? To say that Jim Lites' conduct is unprofessional would be a gross understatement.
"In professional sports, all individual players and teams go through highs and lows, but this is not how professionals handle adversity."
Lites ripped into Seguin and Benn in a pair of interviews Friday, most notably telling The Athletic's Sean Shapiro the duo's performance this season is "fucking horseshit" and informing Matthew DeFranks of the Dallas Morning News that their "terrible play" has "pissed me off."
"This is not about trading anyone. This is not about firing anyone," Stars owner Tom Gaglardi said in a statement to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman on Saturday night.
Both players brushed off the comments earlier Saturday, with Benn saying, "I don't play for him, I play for every player in this room and the coaching staff." Seguin revealed he hasn't had a conversation with Lites since the end of last season.
Seguin and Benn currently rank first and third in team scoring, respectively.
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