Not really. Not sure what point you're disputing.
And there were several well known players, big stars even, with substance abuse problems like Bob Probert and John Kordic for example.
Many have died due to drug issues and eventual suicide.
List of NHL enforcers who have passed away gets longer | The Star
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.si.com/.amp/nhl/2012/02/29/players-smokingcigarettesnhlhockey
"I had just come from Philadelphia, where there really weren't a lot of guys who smoked," he says. "But I walk in and see those ashtrays everywhere, and the first thing I told the guys was: 'OK, no more smoking in the dressing room. If you gotta smoke, do it out in the hallway.' So I'm coaching my first exhibition game and I go into the dressing room after the first period to talk, and there's no one in there. I'm wondering what in hell is going on, and take a walk out to the other side of the hallway and the whole team is out there, smoking cigarettes."
. . .
"If you ever saw the Montreal
Canadiens' Hall of Fame winger Guy Lafleur away from a rink, chances are he had a cigarette between his right thumb and forefinger.
Mike Bossy, the Hall of Fame sniper who helped the New York
Islanders win four straight Stanley Cups, smoked while answering postgame questions from reporters, as E.M. Swift's Sports Illustrated story from May 1983 documents.
Pittsburgh
Penguins great Mario Lemieux smoked well into his brilliant career, but finally gave it up, perhaps due to his scary bout with Hodgkin's Disease.
Chicago's Denis Savard scored 473 goals during his 18-year Hall of Fame career despite a habit that was estimated to be at least a pack a day. His Blackhawks linemates, Steve Larmer and Al Secord, also were said to be big smokers, which contributed to their nickname of "The Party Line" although Secord recently told SI.com that he never lit up."
Johnston, in his 65th training camp, reflects on the sport's evolution
"Training camp is nothing new for Johnston. In fact, Johnston - or "EJ" as he's affectionately known as - has been involved in NHL training camps for the past 65 years.
"I came in at 19 (years old). That was my first camp. That would be 1954 in Montreal," Johnston said.
"It was a couple years ago," he added with a laugh.
Johnston has seen the game evolve drastically in the past six-plus decades. Everything from the equipment to the staffing to the length of camp has changed.
"Back then you used training camp to get into shape," he said. "You just enjoyed yourself in the summertime because you wouldn't put a pair of skates on until September. Then the first two, three weeks was to get into shape. You didn't even play a game.
"Now you have three days of camp and you play a game. Nowadays you better come (to camp) in shape for your job."
In the 50s and 60s when the players arrived they would practice for 90 minutes every day, and on game days they would work on their conditioning following the game.
. . .
"I was with the (Boston) Bruins in 1962 and we had tough guys," Johnston said. "They would fight and you'd finish practice, 10 or 12 would go and have a beer. Then you sweat it out the next day. That doesn't happen now."