35 replies to this topic

[TroyLoney]

The commissioners of the NHL, NBA, NFL and MLB were testifying in front of Congress on February 27th about the role steroids play in their sports. Do you think the NHL has a problem with steroids? What percentage of NHL players do you think are taking steroids?

Sean Hill is the only active NHL player to have been suspended for taking steroids. (Read More >>)

Three years ago the President of the World Anti-Doping Agency claimed that he believed as many as 1/3 of all NHL players were taking steroids. (Read More >>)

[Todrick]

yes i think players are using them... possibly a lot of players.... but i don't think it's a big problem... accept for possible fits of Roid-Rage

I think whoever selected 0-9% is horribly naive.

[M T]

I don't think it is a big problem in the NHL.

[Duckbill]

I think that the NHL is mostly clean. Right now the NHL has only had one player suspended for any kind of steroid abuse (Sean Hill) and that's with stepped up testing. Part of the reason I think it's the cleanest league is because there is a lot of integirty amongst a good number of players, and there are a lot of players that need to stay clean for International Competitions (where the testing is surely the most stringent).

[ladiesandgentlemen]

I would really like to see the rationale of the people that voted yes, assuming they understood the question.

[Kariya9]

I think the NHL is pretty much ok. I selected 10-19.

My suspects of Steroid users:
Sidney Crosby
Chris Chelios
Daniel Alffredson
Roberto Luongo
Alex Kovalev
JP Dumont
Mats Sundin
Patrick Sharp
Henrick Zetterberg
Zdeno Chara

[Todrick]

is it just me or does Chris Simon not just personify the term "roid rage"

[Duckbill]

I think the NHL is pretty much ok. I selected 10-19.

My suspects of Steroid users:
Sidney Crosby
Chris Chelios
Daniel Alffredson
Roberto Luongo
Alex Kovalev
JP Dumont
Mats Sundin
Patrick Sharp
Henrick Zetterberg
Zdeno Chara

Where do you get these suspicions from? Anyone on your list who has ever played internationally would have been outed right now had they been using, and anyone on that list hwo hasn't surely would have been caught now since testing has been bulked up in the wake of baseball's mess.

[BritDuck]

I voted no. I don't think it is a big problem. I also cannot imagine Sid the Kid doing anything to jeopardise his career at such an early age. I'd be interested to know why you think he is using?

[TroyLoney]

Where do you get these suspicions from? Anyone on your list who has ever played internationally would have been outed right now had they been using, and anyone on that list hwo hasn't surely would have been caught now since testing has been bulked up in the wake of baseball's mess.

What makes you think that just because a player plays in the Olympics or in an international competition they would be caught? Marion Jones never tested positive but she was using steroids. The cheaters are always ahead of the testing so just because someone plays in the Olympics and doesn't test positive doesn't mean they are clean.

I think the NHL is pretty much ok. I selected 10-19.

My suspects of Steroid users:
Sidney Crosby
Chris Chelios
Daniel Alffredson
Roberto Luongo
Alex Kovalev
JP Dumont
Mats Sundin
Patrick Sharp
Henrick Zetterberg
Zdeno Chara

Interesting list. I'd be curious to know what you based that on.

I think it's much more likely that fringe NHL players are taking steroids. Guys that are 3rd/4th line players or guys who fight a lot and are just average at best because those are the guys that can go from making a pittance in the minors to making a few hundred thousand a year in the NHL. They are also the ones that most likely need that extra something to give them an edge and to separate themselves from the rest of the players in the minors.

I do think it's a problem because if 1/3 of the league is taking illegal drugs then that is a problem.

[DucksSnip]

its not a BIG problem...because it hasnt been exposed, remember steriods in baseball wasnt a BIG deal untill a certain retired player with an ego problem made it a BIG problem...is there NHL's who take steriods? absolutely...what is the percentage? thats a good question...my guess would be 40-60%...

as far as olympic or pre-season testing goes..the way they get around it is...steriods only have a blood life of like 1 or 2 weeks...so obviously you stop in that much time before you get tested, and since they only test you once, you can start again the minute you walk out of the test...to this day i know that the MLB only test the players 1 time a year at spring training, and they dont test you for HGH...if you watch baseball players closely you will see in spring training and the beganing of the season they are slim....as the season rolls on the players somehow start putting on weight...watch alex rodriguez for training camp to the end of the season.

IMHO..i think in ALL sports, all players owners, coaches, commissioners,etc. know whats going on...but they also think that it is good for there sports..(i.e. there are records being broken that have stood for a long time, players are WAY better now, and sports are A LOT more exciting today then they use to be..) which equals more money.

[ladiesandgentlemen]

What makes you think that just because...

I do think it's a problem because if 1/3 of the league is taking illegal drugs then that is a problem.

I would like to know what makes you think that 1/3 of the NHL players are doping. Just because Dick Pound said so?

[TroyLoney]

I would like to know what makes you think that 1/3 of the NHL players are doping. Just because Dick Pound said so?

Certainly the opinion of the President of the World Anti-Doping Agency plays a part in that guesstimate, but that's not the only factor. As I said I think it's primarily third/fourth line wingers, goons and third pairing defenseman as well as some guys that are trying to come back from an injury or extend their careers by a year or two. The third paring is 1/3 of the defenseman, the fourth line is 1/4 of the forwards and there's usually at least one or two guys on each team that are coming back from injury or at the end of their careers. Add it all up and, in my best guess, it's about 1/3 of the league.

So far 16 people have voted on this poll and 11 of them think that at least 10% of the league is taking steroids. If that's the case you'd have to think that some of those players are on the Ducks, right? If you want to have some fun/start some fights we can speculate on which Ducks might be taking steroids.

[DropThePuck]

If you want to have some fun/start some fights we can speculate on which Ducks might be taking steroids.

"fun" ... most certainly!

"start some fights" ... most definitely not.
There's other more appropriate messages boards where sparring and baiting are encouraged, but MT founded this place to be different from those. We highly encourage respectful discussions. They may get heated when members are passionate about the topic, but we do strive to argue the point and not the person. Anyone who thinks otherwise, should again refresh their memories of the rules and guidelines (located at the top of each board Web page).

Thanks! And let the voting and discussions continue.

[TroyLoney]

"fun" ... most certainly!

"start some fights" ... most definitely not.
There's other more appropriate messages boards where sparring and baiting are encouraged, but MT founded this place to be different from those. We highly encourage respectful discussions. They may get heated when members are passionate about the topic, but we do strive to argue the point and not the person. Anyone who thinks otherwise, should again refresh their memories of the rules and guidelines (located at the top of each board Web page).

Thanks! And let the voting and discussions continue.

I think you took the term "start some fights" a little too literally. I only meant that in the sense that it would no doubt get some people riled up if their favorite player was named as a possible steroids user. I am not suggesting anyone start a fight with another member but I am also not naive enough to think that naming Ducks who might be taking steroids wouldn't get some heated dialogue going. Hell, we had people attacking me yesterday over math.

We've already had names mentioned in this thread as to who some members think are taking steroids...is it ok to name players on other teams but not ok to name Ducks?

[DropThePuck]

is it ok to name players on other teams but not ok to name Ducks?

I took it literally, but only because I wanted to err on that side than let all h-e-double-hockey-sticks break out here too. Sorry some of us mods weren't around much yesterday.

We're not about censorship here ... as long as there a reasonable and respectful discussion and it's not a bunch of falsehoods, you could name Santa Claus.

[Kariya9]

Interesting list. I'd be curious to know what you based that on.

Most of those players are just me pondering. But I can back up:

Chris Chelios: He's 45... and can still skate as fast as Lidstrom. NTM, he's got some roid rage.

Pat Sharp: Guys don't all of the sudden learn how to play offence...

Alex Kovalev: He's 35, and now he's all the sudden haveing his best season? Especially after he's been going down the rope for six or 7 years.

Henrick Zetterberg: Check the stats. Look at the difference between his first two years, and his last three. (Not good proof I know, but I'm just speculateing)

I could go on, but I'll take a break

[Reb]

I personally find this thread and poll to be pointless and useless. It makes no difference what any of us think and/or believe. I've enjoyed the game too long care who may or may not be using. I just don't want to know.

[Duckbill]

Pat Sharp: Guys don't all of the sudden learn how to play offence...

How does that have to do with Steroids? Doesn't that seem to be more of an indicator of, I dunno studying a playbook? Last I checked it didn't help to take steroids for mental problems.

What makes you think that just because a player plays in the Olympics or in an international competition they would be caught? Marion Jones never tested positive but she was using steroids. The cheaters are always ahead of the testing so just because someone plays in the Olympics and doesn't test positive doesn't mean they are clean.

I mention it because the testing is far more stringent. Yes there is a possibility that some of those players can slip through the cracks, but it is not as likely as it was with Baseball and Football, which did next to nothing.

Also, notice how Baseball and Football have started to catch more and more players now that their standards have shot up, but the NHL has still only had the one case that you and I both mentioned, Sean Hill. IF Steroids were a bigger problem we would be seeing more people get caught now, because not everyone taking steroids is using the hyperadvanced stuff that can't be detected, and some of those people are just dumb about it.)

[ladiesandgentlemen]

For all anybody here knows, Transcendental Meditation or Scientology or Tony Robbins could be responsible for the improved play or extended careers or whatever else has been mentioned. Nothing mentioned amounts to anything greater than anecdotal evidence and hearsay.

And for the record, Chris Chelios has acted the exact same way throughout his entire hockey career. His surliness should not be mistaken for 'roid rage.

[Sojourn]

I don't think roids are much of a problem at all in the NHL, except perhaps for fringe players.

Consider some of the best players in the NHL: Players like Sidney Crosby, , Lecavalier, Ovechkin, Thornton, Niedermayer, Lidstrom... can you honestly look at them and say "They are on roids"? That's silly. Most of what makes them great is their competitiveness, their vision, and their work ethic. They display no signs at all of steroids. The only players I think who would be on them are the players who are on the bubble, and that's never been conclusively proven one way or the other.

[Sojourn]

Most of those players are just me pondering. But I can back up:

Chris Chelios: He's 45... and can still skate as fast as Lidstrom. NTM, he's got some roid rage.

Pat Sharp: Guys don't all of the sudden learn how to play offence...

Alex Kovalev: He's 35, and now he's all the sudden haveing his best season? Especially after he's been going down the rope for six or 7 years.

Henrick Zetterberg: Check the stats. Look at the difference between his first two years, and his last three. (Not good proof I know, but I'm just speculateing)

I could go on, but I'll take a break

Chelios is a fitness fanatic. He probably works as hard as anyone, or even harder, to be able to compete in the NHL. His personality has also never changed at all in his NHL career.

Sharp is a young player. Young players routinely have breakout seasons. He was probably given more responsibility this season, and has shined.

Kovalev has always been an outstanding player. He has regularly been considered one of the best talents in the NHL. His problem has always been motivation and effort. Steroids don't give you either.

Zetterberg is having a breakout season. He was a late bloomer coming into the NHL, so there's no surprise he had a breakout season a little late too.

None of this means steroids, dude. These are all high skill players, and skill isn't something that comes from steroids. Strength is.

[Dark Knight]

Most of those players are just me pondering.

Applying your logic, Selanne must be on steroids

[ladiesandgentlemen]

Certainly the opinion of the President of the World Anti-Doping Agency plays a part in that guesstimate, but that's not the only factor. As I said I think it's primarily third/fourth line wingers, goons and third pairing defenseman as well as some guys that are trying to come back from an injury or extend their careers by a year or two. The third paring is 1/3 of the defenseman, the fourth line is 1/4 of the forwards and there's usually at least one or two guys on each team that are coming back from injury or at the end of their careers. Add it all up and, in my best guess, it's about 1/3 of the league.

So far 16 people have voted on this poll and 11 of them think that at least 10% of the league is taking steroids. If that's the case you'd have to think that some of those players are on the Ducks, right? If you want to have some fun/start some fights we can speculate on which Ducks might be taking steroids.

Although Dick Pound certainly is good for a quote or two ("You’d think he’d be violating every virgin within 100 miles. How does he even get on his bicycle?" -- Pound on Floyd Landis after his testosterone level was found to be sky high), he is also famous for running his mouth with groundless accusations. He has ostracized himself from even the IOC, and has basically embarrassed himself. Pound rants against every sports organization that does not meet his opinion of what drug testing standards they should use, and goes to the extreme of calling into question the whole sport's "integrity". Yet he has none of that himself as he continues to run his mouth with unsubstantiated claims.

The NHL and NHLPA have both denounced his accusations and have asked him to provide evidence to justify his comments and claims. To date, he hasn't done so. Instead, he has flopped out some more garbage from his mouth against the NHL, making some comment about the players prefering speed or something, because he was totally shut down on the steroid front. For a guy who claims his whole motivation is the integrity of sports, he certainly doesn't hold his tongue accountable to his credo.

[Kariya9]

Applying your logic, Selanne must be on steroids

Perhaps...