I thought about this too.
On one hand, good on the NHL by prohibiting drug use for those who have entered the program. They don’t want the program to just be abused as a “drop in” type place for guys to go as an excuse when their wives/families catch them doing drugs. That’s obviously the easiest escape from these situations. You betray your pregnant wife with a hooker and drugs in a hotel in Seattle and she threatens to leave you, you say it’s a problem and you need help. You play the victim. You’re an absolute scumbag because of it but you get away with it. That seems like the easy escape for sure. And I’m sure it’s been abused plenty.
But then there’s the other side. The NHL doesn’t prohibit recreational drug use from any other players. Only those who have been in the program. I wonder how many NHL players actually knew this rule? Are we going to see players try to solve their problems themselves instead of using the program because in their heads they want to be able to sneak a rip here and there at the occasional shaker down the road?
Whoa, a well-reasoned take!
It’s absolutely a problem that the nhl is kinda contradictory here- players should ask for help, we’re doing much better there, but once in the program they get tested. That’s clearly gonna scare off some guys who have issues.
At the same time, if it’s cocaine or meth or somethin- that’s arguably performance enhancing. f***ing ruins your long term health, don’t do it, but to focus on a game? Absolutely could be a thing.
I had a problem with the lack of resolution regarding the hotel incident, glad things are clearly ok. Good job league. If the NFL or NBA swept half the shit under the rug the nhl does..