NHL insiders call out Penguins and President Trump

Politics and sports have been taking the forefront in the past week, with several NHL players taking a stand on President Donald Trump's comments about players taking a knee during the National Anthem.

The conflict was intensified on Monday when it was revealed that the Pittsburgh Penguins would be accepting the invitation from President Donald Trump to attend the White House.

The NHL insiders on the panel of TSN hockey weighed in on the situation, calling out the Penguins for their choice to attend in this current climate. 

"There is now a political and social war going on, and especially with what happened with the Golden State Warriors and their visit to the White House, [the Penguins might] find themselves in the middle of all of this and maybe being used unwillingly or willingly as presidentiel propaganda, and so I would not go," explained Bob McKenzie.

"That's not somebody I want to meet, I don't need the 5-minute conversation and the picture on the wall with the team and the President, that's definitely something I wouldn't be proud of," added Jeff O'Neil. 

"Sports has always been a safe place, both for fans and for players, and it's a divising thing, I would not be going to the White House," said Dave Poulin. 

Several other journalists have called out the Penguins on their decision. Show host James Duthie ended the conversation with this: 

"While they're Fully within their rights to go, I will say this: the timing of that statement by the Penguins in the midst of everything that was going on on Sunday was horrendous."