slanders defenceman Sean Hill was hit with a 20-game suspension by the NHL on Friday - just hours before New York faced elimination from the playoffs - for violating the league's performance-enhancing substances program.
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=204971&hubname=nhl
The NHL, the Islanders, and Sean Hill ALL knew before the playoffs that Hill tested positive. From what they've been saying is that the testing happened with weeks left in the regular season.
Now tell me something, do you think a defenseman who was logging 20 min per game, had a +2 in the final stretch and was a guy blocking multiple shots has an affect on if the Islanders win or not. To be honest I don't know, but this leaves a black eye for the league.
What about the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens who were fighting with the Isles for that last spot? How can you tell them, yes we knew one of the Islander players were dirty, but we allowed him to play due to the NHLPA's right to appeal. I don't want to say that's unfair to the organizations because they were the one's who helped build these rules, but it's unfair to the fans of these cities.
In my mind, once proven guilty like Sean Hill was, he should NOT have been allowed to play unless in the appeal he was proven innocent. Yes the term innocent until proven guilty will come into play here but he WAS proven guilty. I don't care if a player is a Leaf, Senator, Hab, Islander, Red Wing, w/e. If their tests are positive they should be suspended on the spot and if the arbitrator lifts it or gives him less time, then let it happen then. Not let them play until all this crap goes through because they just lost multi-million dollars for two teams.
If the NHL wants to be considered up with the big four, they need to innovate these aspects of the game so the other sports copy THEM, not the other way around.