Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Nate Schmidt suspended 20 games for violating the NHL /NHLPA performance enhancing substance program.
We’re finally coming down the home stretch of the NHL offseason. In what has been a dead past few weeks in the NHL’s, the Vegas Golden Knights finally got some news. But it’s not the news they wanted to hear at all.
The National Hockey League have suspended Golden Knights defenseman Nate Schmidt 20 games without pay for violating the terms of NHL/NHLPA Performance Enhancing Substances Program. The league didn’t state what Schmidt tested positive for. Yikes, this is not how Golden Knights fans wanted to start the second season of their existence.
The fans may not be happy at all, but the team and Schmidt himself are irate that this suspension is actually happening. The team traced down the substance, and they strongly disagree with the NHL’s ruling.
Here’s the Statement the Vegas Golden Knights put out on their website:
"We were notified that the NHL has suspended Nate Schmidt for violating the terms of the NHL/NHLPA Performance Enhancing Substances Program. While we respect the NHL/NHLPA Performance Enhancing Substances Program and are committed to its success, we strongly disagree with the suspension. We firmly believe that the presence of a trace of the banned substance was accidental and unintentional. Based on our conversations with Nate, analysis from independent medical experts and sworn testimony from the parties involved, we believe it is clear Nate was not able to reasonably ascertain how the substance entered his body.Nate is an honest person with high moral character and great integrity. We will stand by him and support him during this time.”"
But that’s not all, Schmidt himself released a statement voicing his displeasure of the suspension. His words are much more eye-opening than the one the team announced. Take a look at this:
"“I am extremely disappointed to learn that I have been suspended for a violation of the NHL/ NHLPA Performance Enhancing Substances Program. The fact that I’m issuing this statement is surreal to me as I have only used supplements provided by my NHL team and I have always been extremely careful about what I put into my body. Throughout my playing career I have been tested numerous times, including twice last season, and I have never before tested positive. It was utterly shocking to be informed that I tested positive for a microscopic amount of a tainted substance. Not only did I not intentionally take a banned substance, I could not have received any performance enhancement benefit from the trace amount that inadvertently got into my system at a level that was far too small to have any effect. This low amount was consistent with environmental contamination that I could not possibly have prevented.One of the experts in environmental contamination who testified on my behalf at the Appeal hearing described the amount of the substance found in my system – 7 billionths of a milligram/mL – as the equivalent of a pinch of salt in an Olympic-sized swimming pool. Another expert analyzed a sample of my hair and concluded there was no evidence of intentional use. The Vegas Golden Knights track players’ strength and performance metrics and my results have remained constant over the past year.While I support having a strong Performance Enhancing Substances Program in place for our sport, it is difficult to accept this suspension. I understand that I will miss these games, but I do not agree with the suspension and I will not accept being labelled a cheater.I have worked my whole life to become an NHL player, and I’m extremely proud to be a player in the NHL. I have never cut corners in order to achieve this goal. I am grateful for the support of the entire Golden Knights organization and I can’t put into words how disappointed I am that I will not be on the ice at the beginning of the season to help my teammates work towards another Stanley Cup run.”"
Let’s take a few things away from Schmidt’s statement. He goes in-depth with just how much of the mystery substance that he put in his body. A pinch of salt in an Olympic sized swimming pool? Wow.
He wholeheartedly disagreed with the leagues ruling and won’t be labeled as a cheater. Which goes to tell me he already had lost an appeal against the NHL. And that’s horrible news for Schmidt as he’s going to miss nearly a quarter of his contract year due to this suspension.
The St. Cloud, Minnesota native is set to return from his suspension on November 18th when the Golden Knights take on the Oilers in Edmonton. However, this puts this Golden Knights in a very precarious position in the first quarter of the season.
Vegas will be without their TOI leader on the blue line and the most personable player in the dressing room. And that’s not all; the Golden Knights will miss a good chunk of offense from the charismatic defenseman. The 27-year old scored five goals, 31 assists and 36 points in 76 games played.
To make matters worse for the Vegas Golden Knights, Shea Theodore is still left without a contract and training camp open in under two weeks. That makes two of the Golden Knights most talented defensemen on the shelf for the time being. If I’m Golden Knights general manager George McPhee, I say they need to get the Theodore contract done as soon as possible at this point.