Islanders Defenseman Hill Suspended
Just received an email from the leauge saying Sean Hill has been suspended 20 games for violating the terms of the NHL/NHLPA performance enhancing substances program. The suspension begins with tonight's Game 5 against the Sabres.
Here's a link.
By
Tarik El-Bashir
|
April 20, 2007; 4:59 PM ET
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Posted by: Bubba | April 20, 2007 6:07 PM | Report abuse
Hey Tarik:
If memory serves, Hill is one of those "character guys" that some suggested GMGM should have pursued?
Posted by: Joe | April 21, 2007 7:07 AM | Report abuse
Wow, check out this article by the Toronto Star. Even though it has absolutely nothing to do with him, they find a way to work Crosby in
Posted by: Dudezy | April 21, 2007 12:09 PM | Report abuse
Maybe I'm a sucker, but I had been very impressed with Hill's play this year. Of course it's probable, with this news, that it was due to his use/reliance on drugs.
Either way, he's going to be an inexpensive UFA (he made 600k this year, and now the positive drug test is gonna hurt his value badly), LOTS of experience, plays physically, and plays pretty smart hockey. Anyone think it's worth the risk of signing him to a one year deal in the off-season (even with him missing 19 games to start next season)?
Posted by: Jeff | April 23, 2007 9:28 AM | Report abuse
Jeff:
Re Sean Hill - debating the risk is one factor, but,jeez, the guys already 37 years old! Don't you have to wonder just why the Caps would go in that direction, rather than, say, pursuing someone in the 27-31 year range
Posted by: Joe | April 23, 2007 2:44 PM | Report abuse
Oh, no question the dude is old. No question the guy has a lot of risk...but ultimately, our D is extremely young, and if we feel like our young guys (Green, Eminger, Schultz, etc) just need another year or two to mature, you can't give out long term contracts to guys in the 27-31 age range (see Pothier, Brian) who will eat up both salary cap and a roster space.
I was thinking Hill (or another cheap/experienced UFA) might be a decent bridge between our young guys who "are the future" and when the future finally gets here.
Posted by: Jeff | April 23, 2007 3:18 PM | Report abuse
I don't necessarily agree with you - there are other options that I prefer- but that's okay. It's just about universaally agreed, afterall, that we've got to do something.
Posted by: Anonymous | April 23, 2007 4:17 PM | Report abuse
We could have used him on our team this year... doped up or not.
Its a shame Witt soured on the Caps. Hopefully Rivet will sign with the Caps.
Posted by: Graham | April 24, 2007 9:00 AM | Report abuse
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Wow! Has an NHLer been suspended previously for performance enhancing drugs?
I found the following article from 2005 that indicated to that point there had been only three positive tests for PES in the NHL and two of those were reasonably explainable:
http://www.tsn.ca/tsn/news_story/?ID=125286&hubname=