There’s also a reasonably high probability that his abuse issue started as a result of either injury (pain meds) or junior hockey hazing (if you don’t think forced drug use is a part of this I have an oceanfront property in Phoenix to sell you).
Like everyone, I hope he gets the help he needs and cleans up so he can have a long and healthy life.
From a hockey perspective, how do we think that the team and his teammates will treat him when he comes back? This is two straight years where this has been unable to play in the playoffs. I haven't done any homework on this, but it seems to me that the team has done substantially better with him in the lineup.
There’s also a reasonably high probability that his abuse issue started as a result of either injury (pain meds) or junior hockey hazing (if you don’t think forced drug use is a part of this I have an oceanfront property in Phoenix to sell you).
First of all, if someone enters NHL assistance program does it automatically mean addiction? i would assume there are other criteria as well, but lets assume this is an addiction.
Im not an addiction expert at all but using common sense, unless its forced upon you, each addiction starts out as a choice and then turns into a addiction at some point which takes over your mind or your body or sometimes both and its often very hard to control unless you go into rehab and get help which still isn't easy but can be managed by professionals.
Again, not an expert on NHL assistance program but i assume its something close to rehab where individuals get often confined to some facility full of doctors, physiologists and different type of experts who assess situation, come up with proper treatment plan and also have a say when individual is well enough to be "released" into the society. At that point i can only assume we are back to the choice phase. Maybe its easier to go back to the dark side but there is a choice once again.
So assuming all this is at least close to reality, and maybe im completely out to lunch and its not, individuals have a choice to go back to back habits but fail either due to being weak mentally or actually enjoying addiction enough to say screw it, its much more fun on the other side...
We dont really know where we stand with Nichushkin but assuming its just addiction and there is no fault of his at all here is just silly imo...truth is likely somewhere in the middle...
14 Teams H2H Dynasty, 28 roster spots (8 bench), 15 minors under 100
Weekly Matchups - Daily Lineups
Skaters: G/A/Pt/PIM/SoG/STP/H+B/ToI/Corsi
Goalies: W/GAA/SVs/SV%/SHO
C: Eichel, Kadri, Mcdavid, Sodeberg, Schenn
LW: Ehlers, Landeskog, Meier, Debrusk, Foegele, Lee
RW: Pastrnak, Marner, Palmieri, Terry, D. Brown, Bailey, Granlund
D: Krug, Josi, Ekholm, Faulk, Muzzin, Karlsson, Cernak,
G: Hellebuyck, Biship, M Jones
There's a double standard when it comes to this kind of stuff
Let's say guy with an addiction takes drugs and goes and kills his family. Do you wish him the best? Guy with alcohol addiction drives drunk and hits a family. Do people wish him the best? Guy with porn addiction gets caught with libraries of sex tapes of minors. Does he get sympathy? No - they are vilified, crucified and never mentioned by name ever again. Every trace of their existence gets wiped.
BUT they have an addiction... so how's that diff than this situation other than the severity of the consequence?
I'm not sure why addiction or mental illness need to be politicized like that, it might fit your narrative or world view better to think of them as "woke" but last time I checked they affect right wing people too. Some of the views in this thread are so backwards and completely lacking any kind of empathy it makes my head hurt.
I feel for him as I've really had my own struggles over the years. I never used drugs but I totally understand when people start using. I've lost some friends recently from over dosing and I can't help but think that they just needed extra support somewhere. Who knows what the reasons he is using but typically no healthy minded person just starts using out of no where. We can say his actions are selfish but there's more to this iceberg than meets the eye. His life and well being are much more important than a ring on his finger. As frustrating it is for some fans and the players, we have to remember hockey is just a game.
Sometimes, athlete or not, we need extra support to get through some things in life. I know I wouldn't be where I am at without several people stepping up when they realized there was a problem. At the same time, you have to be accepting of change also.
The people who look at addiction and relapse simply as a choice would need to completely re-wire their brain to understand why they are so wrong, and are almost certainly at an age where that type of growth is impossible, so they simply are not worth the time addressing and arguing with.
Assistance programs are no miracle pill that works over night. Some people take years to get over drugs/alcohol/ depression. Not trying to make the players assistance sound bad but people are human and often relapse or go back down a deep hole of depression.
Me for example, it took like 8 years of people coaching me through my situation and attending counseling on a regular basis.