Here are the NHL Stories from Prime Time Sports last night (National Hour):Host: Mike Toth
Guests: Jim Kelley from Rogers Sportsnet, James Deacon from the FAN590 and Michael Grange from the Globe & Mail
Main NHL Story: The roundtable first talked about a breaking news release about Sean Hill being suspended for 20 games by the NHL for violating the drug policy. The story was very unclear at the point and the roundtable decided to discuss drugs and the NHL. They mentioned how Sean was the first player to be prosecuted under this drug policy and most likely he will come out to the media with a "tainted supplement" story, because as Kelley said - the cheaters are usually way ahead of the testers. They also discussed the risk Hill was taking given that he is going to be a UFA come July 1st. Will a team want to pick up a guy who will miss the first quarter of the season? This discussion flowed right out into society - so many people are taking risks to be better, whether it is steroids or cosmetic surgery, etc. And given that Hill was an 8th round pick, he needed to find a way to make a living playing in the NHL and making NHL money.
Discussion moved to the playoffs. On the west coast, the Flames are staying in the series. Kelley made an analysis of why - the Flames power play and the play of Hasek. Kelley says that Hasek is a person whose skin you can get under very quickly and it seems that Jerome Iginla has gotten under it. Kelley suggested that if Hasek continues to be "distracted", Babcock might be forced to play Chris Osgood. Deacon brought up the play of Todd Bertuzzi - he is a physical presence on the ice and will help the Red Wings in their quest for the Cup. The roundtable then went off-topic about the fact that Bertuzzi shouldn't even be in the NHL right now...however, Toth cut that short with a comment about how boring the Vancouver-Dallas series was. Grange talked about the possible curse that will now be put on Marty Turco if Dallas end up losing this series. Toth (who found the series boring) quickly moved on to Ottawa, saying just to P.O. the Ottawa listeners that Toronto still would have beat the Senators, even if the Penguins couldn't.
The roundtable then had the chance to talk to Bill Daly about the Sean Hill suspension. Kelley mainly took over the questioning. Kelley first asked what Hill test positive for and Daly declined comment based on confidentiality. Kelley then asked about the time line. Daly said that through the new CBA, a player who tests positive has the chance to appeal before any suspension is brought down. Therefore, in Hill's case the positive test could have been made much earlier in the season. Kelley then asked about how the process works and what was new since the CBA. Daly talked about how each players can be tested up to 3 times during the season and will be NOT be paid if they are suspended under this policy. Toth chimed in about the timing and Daly said that it doesn't matter about timing and they proved in this case that they will suspend any player who violates the policy regardless of where the season is along the schedule. Kelley asked if this was their only case and Daly agreed. Toth asked about the next steps - Daly said that Hill will be referred to a NHL sponsored drug program where he will spend 2 years and will be monitred. Kelley asked that since their was no law enforcement involved that the substance was performance enhancing only and Daly agreed. Kelley's closing thought was that this was inevitable and he complements the NHL on their testing policy given that previously it seemed, to Dick Pound at least, that it was weak.
The Gretzky Situation: The roundtable discussed this article about the Coyotes and the way the team is like a "country club with no plan in place for the future." Kelley found Jeff Shumways comments to be pro-Gretzky. It appeared that Shumway was blaming Gretzky for the Coyotes problems, however he seemed to have the support Gretzky. Shumway really sent a mixed message here by doing this article, yet letting Gretzky escape with his job. James Deacon mentioned that another interview with Shumway was done after this report, in which Shumway said there WAS a plan, except the two plans were different between the owners and the coaches. The old owner wanted to win right now, whilst Gretzky and Barnett wanted to build with youth.
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