Golden Knights’ Nate Schmidt wants NHL to do more drug tests
Nate Schmidt says revisions to the NHL’s drug testing program could start with the type of test and its frequency.
The Golden Knights defenseman, who was suspended the first 20 games of last season after testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance, wants the league to test more often and test using blood rather than urine.
Schmidt said such changes would help players avoid suspensions like his, where he claims “environmental contamination” led to his positive test. His appeal was denied by an independent arbitrator.
“I would do a blood test,” Schmidt said. “And I hate them. So much.”
Schmidt hopes proposed changes could be included in a potential collective bargaining agreement extension between the league and the NHL Players’ Association, as he first discussed with ESPN.com on Monday.
Schmidt, the Knights’ union representative, has said he would pursue change after returning from his suspension. He wants to remain true to his word. He’s talked to the team, his fellow union members and commissioner Gary Bettman about avenues for reform.
Nothing has been decided, but he’s optimistic an agreement can be reached.
“I’ve been a part of it as much as I can, trying to share my story,” Schmidt said. “I hope that there’s something that comes down here through the proper channels. That they get something done. And then my work will be done with that. Then I’ll be able to fully put it in the past.”
The negotiations will come down to money, as blood tests are more expensive than urine tests. More frequent testing also would cost more.
The league’s current policy calls for players to be tested once during training camp and once on a teamwide basis during the regular season. Players also can be randomly selected for testing during the regular season and playoffs.
Schmidt believes testing more would be worth it, and not just because it would have saved him 20 games and public embarrassment.
He said he thinks it could help more players than teammate Shea Theodore. The defenseman revealed in an essay on The Players’ Tribune website that a failed drug test before the quarterfinals of the International Ice Hockey Federation world championships in May led him to a testicular cancer diagnosis.
Theodore discovered the disease early, had surgery and is back practicing with the Knights.
“I also want to catch cancer,” Schmidt said. “I want this to be more than just a police system.”
Reaves returns
Knights right wing Ryan Reaves made his training camp debut Tuesday, practicing in a noncontact jersey. Reaves remains day to day, according to assistant coach Mike Kelly, with an undisclosed injury he suffered in training late this summer.
The Knights open their season Oct. 2 against the San Jose Sharks.
“I’m definitely shooting for that,” Reaves said. “Obviously, I have to be 100 percent. My conditioning has to be good and the coaches have to know that I’m ready. That’s what this next week and a bit is for.”
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Contact Ben Gotz at bgotz@reviewjournal.com. Follow @BenSGotz on Twitter.