Comments on: Drug Use During Stanley Cup Playoffs Is Just Fine

By: noize43

noize43 — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 17:14:13 +0000

If there was a problem with steroids in the NHL, wouldn't we see players' heads the size of Bonds or McGwire or the average NFL player?

By: Stephen

Stephen — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 15:58:10 +0000

NHL players are also subject to IOC-sanctioned drug testing for the World Championships (which unlike in Basketball, happen every year) and the Olympics (and, indeed, anyone on the "Olympic consideration list" is subject to in-season testing during an Olympic year). To the best of my knowledge, only two of 250 or so players on those lists for Turin tested positive, and both of those were suspicious (Jose Theodore failed for using a hair treatment that he'd notified the NHL of in advance)

If the NHL has a drug problem, it's a stimulant issue - Gretzky freely discussed teammates' Sudafed popping in his book, for instance, and things have likely gotten more sophisticated since then. And I could probably see goons / enforcers, who aren't likely to ever get invited to international play, loading up on them in the offseason. But, as noted, when the greatest player to ever play the game is a 5'11" guy outweighed by most junior varsity players these days, it's obvious there's not much purpose in it.

By: Paul A

Paul A — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 19:30:21 +0000

The thing abut hockey is you don't have to be big to be a force, just look at Gretzky. Hockey is more about balance than about size and strength.

By: Tpuck

Tpuck — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 18:45:46 +0000

Anyone who has seen Evgeni Malkin, Alex Ovechkin or Sidney Crosby with their shirt off knows this is a complete joke.

By: Dave C

Dave C — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 18:00:44 +0000

I wouldn't be shocked if things go on during the playoffs. Its grueling. But there are no real anomaly career arcs in the NHL where a players best years are late into his career (like a Clemmens, for example). A guy like Chellios is a freak of nature, for sure, but he definitely has a career arc that peaked years ago. I like to believe its a mostly clean sport.

By: Charlie

Charlie — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 19:09:22 +0000

LK-

Sure juicer. Dont rip out any car seats after reading this.

By: LK

LK — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 09:35:02 +0000

Come on — Lyle Alzado? Nobody in the world believes (including 100 percent of his doctors) that his steroid use played any role whatsoever in his death. Of all of the side effects of steroids and HGH, brain cancer is nowhere near the list. Sorry, I'm just tired of seeing him as the example of what steroids do, when for all intents and purposes, they did nothing to him, long-term negative side effect-wise.

Performance enhancing? Yes. Death causing? Not really.

By: Pete Gaines

Pete Gaines — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 05:22:12 +0000

This is why I exclusively wear hockey jerseys, so I can claim I'm ripped underneath. Luckily, I never get into situations where I might be exposed, since the ladies don't go for guys who exclusi