Quote:
Originally Posted by Ford Prefect
I’m having a hard time understanding the NHL’s position on this. Back in the ‘80s Ric Nattress was suspended for one year for possession of a “small amount of hash”, and Grant Fuhr was suspended for one year for cocaine possession. But Kusnetsov is suspended for three games, not for possession of an illegal substance but rather for “inappropriate conduct”. I don’t understand why such a big difference. Has the NHL changed its stance on illegal drug use in the interim? If so, why? If not, what’s the rationale? It seems like a wild contradiction to me. Why call it inappropriate conduct? That’s equating illegal drug use to being similar to making a lewd gesture. Seems to me James Wisniewski got more than three games for the lewd gesture he made towards Sean Avery. Weird ruling. Wouldn’t they have been better to just say they don’t have jurisdiction on illegal drug use and not suspend him for any games but help him with rehab instead?
|
My theory is that its more widespread than most people think and the clubs know it, having taken internal steps already. So if they I’m pose big penalties for players caught by outside authorities the players affected will say “what about X - you didn’t do anything to him and he does it too”. I know of pretty solid stories about a few Flames and ex Flames who have had team intervention (to the point of involving Ern).