Auston Matthews won't be taking a knee during "The Star-Spangled Banner" anytime soon, but he has no problem with others doing so.
The American-born Toronto Maple Leafs star explained his rationale to reporters Monday.
"My great uncle served (and) I have friends (and) family (and other) people (who) have served," he told reporters Monday, via TSN. "(They're) men and women who have risked their lives and died for the United States, so I don't know if kneeling, sitting, (or) stretching is really something I'd look into doing because it's ... like a dishonor to the men and women (who) fight for that flag (and) fight for the U.S., so I don't think I'd be one of the people who'd take part in that."
However, Matthews clarified that he believes in the right to freedom of speech.
"Isn't that one of the amendments? You have the right to say whatever you want, so obviously people have taken this time to send a message or make a statement and that's their opinion. They have the right to do that, so good for them," he said.
On Sunday, dozens of NFL players kneeled, locked arms, and remained in the locker room during the anthem in a widespread protest of police brutality and racial inequality given new life by the president's vulgar criticism of the movement.
Also on Sunday, the Pittsburgh Penguins announced their intent to visit the White House. That revelation came one day after the NBA's Golden State Warriors confirmed they won't be going and two days after Warriors guard Stephen Curry said he hoped his team wouldn't make the trip.
Matthews said he understands why the Penguins would accept an invite to the White House and added that he'd consider going if the Leafs were invited.
"Everybody's got their own opinion on stuff (and) they have a right to do whatever they want, but obviously the Penguins made a statement (that) they're going ... it's been a tradition in the past (and) it's a pretty big honor," Matthews said.
"I think it's something that if we were in the position, that's the position we'd like to be in, but I think we'd probably go."
