Nate Schmidt Suspended 20 games!

[Serenity]

Imagine if the Golden Knight would have won the cup!

https://www.nhl.com/news/golden-knig...es/c-299924750

[Serenity]

Guess Shea Theodore owner's will be pretty happy!

[Skippy]

Guess Shea Theodore owner's will be pretty happy!

Do you mean that when Vegas starts the year without both Theodore and Schmidt, Vegas might regress?

[Serenity]

Do you mean that when Vegas starts the year without both Theodore and Schmidt, Vegas might regress?

Theodore is injured?

[Serenity]

My bad. I tought Scmidt was running first PP!

[mounD]

me, wrong and dumb: gee, it sure is unfortunate that the NHL doesn't take player discipline seriously what with all the repeat offenders throwing elbows around and the domestic abusers given free reign to pursue their careers

the NHL, wise and honest: ah but you see, we do take player discipline seriously only when it comes to trace amounts of a substance that's within the calibration of error of the test and could have been caused by environmental exposure. Justice!

[ericdaoust]

I'm happy to see some push-back since it seems it was the smallest amount and far less than there would have been in his system if he had taken it intentionally. We're past the point of lumping everyone "caught" in the same category.

[The Comish]

What is this, the Olympics!!!???

[mounD]

I'm happy to see some push-back since it seems it was the smallest amount and far less than there would have been in his system if he had taken it intentionally. We're past the point of lumping everyone "caught" in the same category.

Yeah. I'd like to see some more details surface regarding the test, what the substance was, the margin of error for their testing protocols, what the appeal process entails, whether it's still ongoing, etc. It's a very complicated issue which is only exacerbated by the fact that the "nutritional supplement" economy in the United States is so unregulated it's just a disaster. It's often the case that the actual testing of the supplements differs greatly from the actual substances that are ultimately sold in the marketplace. Yet another example of where deregulation of industry just misses the mark completely.

My larger point, though, is that the NHL's priorities are so backward. They're more than happy to allow literal criminals who violently attack and sexually abuse individuals to flourish in the league. But a first-time offender who has credible arguments that the substance found in his blood was (1) ineffectual, and (2) unintentional gets the book thrown at him. It's wild.

[Starvin Marvin]

Does Erik Brannstrom get the call?

[Dover]

I would not be surprised if his sentence was reduced... that’s one weird story!

[GretzkysMullet]

This sucks for his owners too. In many (most?) leagues suspended players are not IR eligible, so you're burning a roster spot for a quarter season!

[metaldude26]

Seems to me that there is more than enough time for this to be challenged and reversed before the season begins so there may be hope yet.

*

Obviously we have no idea of guilt or innocence, but I would not be the least bit surprised if Schmidt actually was taking a banned substance. I also don't care if he is or isn't. The line between what's legal and what isn't is so blurry. I just want to see the best players playing their best as often as possible.

[mounD]

Seems to me that there is more than enough time for this to be challenged and reversed before the season begins so there may be hope yet.

*

Obviously we have no idea of guilt or innocence, but I would not be the least bit surprised if Schmidt actually was taking a banned substance. I also don't care if he is or isn't. The line between what's legal and what isn't is so blurry. I just want to see the best players playing their best as often as possible.

It was already appealed to the independent arbitrator, so it's basically finalized at this point. I wouldn't hold out hope if I were an owner. Sucks.

[metaldude26]

It was already appealed to the independent arbitrator, so it's basically finalized at this point. I wouldn't hold out hope if I were an owner. Sucks.

Oh wow, surprised it is only just coming out now if this was already arbitrated. Goes to show how hush hush the NHL keeps it's PED situation.