Puck 'N Hockey

In every NHL season, controversy, adversity, and general off ice distractions seem to crop up at exactly the wrong times for the legitimate Cup contenders.  As the Capitals  embark on finishing the season with ambitions for a deep playoff run, the steroid investigation from last year has popped up again.

Reports came out today that a chiropractor who performed some services for Capitals players, Douglas Nagel, had been arrested for purchasing anabolic steroids.  As a result of the arrest, US Marshals and investigators from the Polk County Sheriff’s office in Florida showed up at Kettler Capitals Iceplex to talk to a few players.  These are the same investigators working on the Richard Thomas case who was arrested and claimed to have sold steroids to the Capitals (and Washington Nationals) last year.

How would you like to be told, as a player coming off the ice at practice, that US Marshals and some investigators from Florida were in town to question you about steroids?

Obviously, all of the players, coaches, and staff will deny any steroid or controlled substance abuse.  I still believe that hockey culture is a deterrent to the use of illegal, performance enhancing substances.  However, the implications of such questioning have to be addressed.  At the very least, the players have to be shielded from the negative exposure this story will bring to the team.  My concern as a coach would be the questions after morning skate tomorrow affecting the players’ focus heading into the big game against the Penguins.  Then, if the investigation were to continue through the last 10 games and into the playoffs, how will the organization focus on the Cup run while dealing with the investigation?

A massive distraction at exactly the wrong time.