The NHL Banning Meldonium Is The First Major Step In Kicking Russians Out Of The League
SportsNet – The NHL has added meldonium to its list of banned substances.
Deputy commissioner Bill Daly confirmed the addition in an email to The Associated Press on Wednesday. It was first reported by the Russian news agency TASS.The change goes into effect for the upcoming season. The NHL and NHL Players’ Association had to agree to add meldonium to its list of prohibited substances.
Let’s go through a few quick fun facts about Russian hockey players. They’re lazy. They don’t hustle. They don’t backcheck. It’s just one-way hockey with them. They only play for themselves and the money. They’re like the NBA of the NHL. Personally I blame most of the blame on this new brand of Russian hockey on Ovechkin. But there have been heartless Russian hockey players since the very moment the Soviets lost to USA in 1980. There are only a handful of good Russians who have come through the ranks since (i.e. Pavel Bure, Sergei Fedorov, Pavel Datsyuk). What’s another fun fact about this new era of Russian hockey? They all take meldonium. Pretty sure everybody in Russia with at least half a heartbeat is forced to take it by Putin.
So now Gary Bettman and the NHL get to piggyback on the Olympics and ban meldonium as a way to bar Russians from participating. Pretty genius, actually. The guy may have no idea how to stop a work stoppage from happening in the league but he sure as shit knows how to keep the Ruskies on their toes. About time Gary started doing his part in Making Hockey Great Again. Bring us back to the days of Gordie Howe and Bobby Hull. Back when it was just some good ol’ Canadian and American farm boys playing the game the way it’s supposed to be played. Heart, grit, intensity. Playing for the name on the front of the jersey and not the one on the back. Now all that’s left to do is to send Montreal to the KHL and maybe force the Penguins to just fold.
P.S. – Obviously Ivan Provorov doesn’t count as a Russian who needs to be kicked out of the league. He’s totally fine to go in my book. Not just because he’s on the Flyers. I’m not biased. But he’s been playing in North America for like the past 4 years. That should grant him immunity.