Rampant Online Abuse in Sports: The NHL's Turn
Online Harassment Spikes for Nearly a Third of NHL Athletes
Recent findings unveil a startling reality for over one-third of NHL players, as they've reported a surge in cyberbullying. This disturbing trend includes death threats, violent messages, and other forms of harassment linked to increased sports betting.
According to a survey published by The New York Times' Athletic, these intimidating exchanges have become more frequent among NHL players. In an alarming statement, one anonymous goaltender mentioned receiving daily abuse, with the majority of messages coming from bettors "pissed off about something." The player elaborated that one such message read: "How did you let in that late goal? I had the under. Thanks a lot. You f-ing suck."
Similarly, another unnamed player voiced concerns about escalating abuse, primarily originating from Russia. "You're up 2-0 and lose, and you get messages like, 'You f--ing asshole, I'm gonna f--ing kill you.'"
Social Media Exodus
A week after this survey's release, the sports world witnessed prominent figures such as LeBron James stepping back from social media due to the barrage of "negative takes." Additionally, NBA star Kevin Durant spoke out against criticism targeting his NFL-centric FanDuel partnership.
The survey suggested that many players have become disconnected from social media, possibly explaining why only under a third receive these obnoxious messages.
Many players echoed this sentiment, with one confessing to having previously received such messages but no longer engaging with these online trolls: "Who would read these f-ing idiots? I don't anymore." Others vented, "That's why I turned everything off." And another, "Good thing I'm not on social media."
The Venmo Hustle
Remarkably, the survey also revealed that NHL players frequently receive Venmo requests, which one player referred to as "demands." The player explained the situation, "You owe me $200 because you were on the ice when...," expressing the absurdity behind these requests. Another admitted receiving multiple Venmo demands, stating he had to send money to "cover someone's parlay" or honor a Venmo request.
It seemed particularly noticeable when playing against Toronto, since fans appeared to be heavily involved in betting on Leafs games.
A Wider Perspective on Online Abuse in Sports
While specific statistics on NHL players facing increased online abuse due to sports betting are scarce, a broader inspection of the sports world provides useful insights. For example, MLB players have reported significant cyberbullying linked to sports betting, resulting in some players also ditching their social media accounts to avoid the noise.
During the recent March Madness basketball tournaments, coaches and officials experienced a spike in abuse due to betting-related upsets, highlighting how such situations can intensify online harassment within the broader sports community.
However, as of June 2025, there is a dearth of direct data examining NHL players' experiences regarding sports-betting-induced cyberbullying. Further targeted studies or official league reports are required for a more comprehensive understanding of this issue within the NHL community.
- The disturbing trend of online abuse in the NHL, as reported by players, includes not only death threats and violent messages but also harassment linked to increased sports betting, such as betting-related criticism and Venmo demands.
- As the issue of online abuse in sports becomes increasingly evident, it's clear that many players across different leagues, including the NHL and MLB, are choosing to distance themselves from social media to avoid the negative impacts of cyberbullying and betting-related harassment.
