[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by Willi Plett

I’ve been waiting for this issue to come to a head. I felt Dubes play alone was a portrayal of a mental struggle and we all knew this was coming.

Many have commented on the Flames and whether they should have said it was for mental health. I would suggest that the Flames are at this time legally bound to say whatever the player, the players agent, or the players lawyer has stated. Privacy law, the CBA, and law in general (read libel) prevents them from doing any different.

Even if a player was accused #1 and later deemed (let’s call it) the most guilty by a court of law, an NHL team would not be able to take any action without proof of guilt.

When there is an ongoing criminal investigation, a civil suit, and a hockey Canada appeal ongoing involving multiple players, no individual NHL team could unilaterally take upon there own investigation without compromising the rest and potentially creating their own legal issues.

Up until now, no player has stepped out and made an admission of guilt to anyone’s knowledge. Given the hockey Canada appeal, one could assume that at minimum, some players did something that will be deemed a violation of Hockey Canadas code of conduct. Given that London policy are now planning to charge 5 players, there is a future possibility of criminal guilt.

Still, coming back to Dube and mental health, the Flames do not have grounds to say anything other than the exact reason the player has stated. Further, if he was guilty in any way, by this point I would think his mental health would leave him in a place where playing to his potential or playing at all was not possible. On the flip, even if he is only associated to it because he was the captain, with all the questions and what is about to unfold, I don’t know about you but it would be eating me alive.

Whatever the case, Dube already knows the facts. Already knows what’s coming. There will be more questioning, court appearance and statements even if it is the minimum of "knows facts". And the media questioning forthcoming? Yikes.

Stating Im leaving for mental health reasons is legitimate and unquestionable by the Flames.

It seems like the Flames provided the most specific commentary (for mental health) while the Flyers and Devils have both basically said the players are on leave, we have no additional comment at this time. I've seen reactions online that the Flames are being complicit or masking this as a mental health issue because it is markedly different from what the legal team of the other teams have had them put out.