after the court I would assume....innocent until proven? NO?
- Garnie

Exactly! We can only speculate on what has been reported. We don't know if he was out partying and having a recreational line or if he is in a dark place right now. I just hope the NHL handles this well and gets him the best support out there if he is indeed suffering from addiction.


I agree, he should have no contact with the team until he is assessed, but lets not make the guy feel any worse than he already does. He made a poor choice and I'm sure he regrets it.

If keeping him away from the locker room is how you'd treat a rapist or murderer, I've got a few concerns.

Point is that I don't think this is a guy you want around all the young players. You hope this is an isolated incident, and you move forward without him.
- Michael_Stuart

We don't know the circumstances behind the cocaine either. It was on his body, not in it. I've had friends come out of bars with things they didn't enter with. So pegging him as an addict is a bit premature until we get more information.

And he would be the first NHL player to do so?

Varlamov, Byfuglien... have all had charges against them yet are still on their team. We live in a real (frank)ed up world when we punish people harder for cocaine possession than physical abuse.
- TimBits

great post

I know, right?

This whole story has just shown how hyperbolic people can be when it comes to casting judgement on someone they've never met but is marginally famous.

Getting arrested for cocaine and being a drug addict are two different things.
- OzBolts

People who are famous generally get the benefit of the doubt. We see it all the time.

well it would be greater than mine

hopefully he can get some help and finish his career.

cheers
- Garnie

if the team/league decides to suspend him or end his career that's one thing.

but the occasional line of coke when hes partying isn't gonna destroy his career physically or mentally

and lets not kid ourselves that an absolute sh1tload of these young millionaire athletes don't rail out when theyre partying. id seriously be willing wager more than half of the younger ones without families and kids.
and I certainly don't mean to exclude the latter mentioned demographic either. just probably abit less prevalent or less often

If keeping him away from the locker room is how you'd treat a rapist or murderer, I've got a few concerns.

Point is that I don't think this is a guy you want around all the young players. You hope this is an isolated incident, and you move forward without him.
- Michael_Stuart

I wonder if you would be saying the same thing if it was Stamkos. Easy to try and make an example of an aging player who doesn't produce anymore

I wonder if you would be saying the same thing if it was Stamkos. Easy to try and make an example of an aging player who doesn't produce anymore
- Vukota

I would be on board if the Canucks took a chance on Malone. Besides, we have better coke here. Totally kidding...

Our coke sucks!

I would be on board if the Canucks took a chance on Malone. Besides, we have better coke here. Totally kidding...

Our coke sucks!
- Bakwas

If keeping him away from the locker room is how you'd treat a rapist or murderer, I've got a few concerns.

Point is that I don't think this is a guy you want around all the young players. You hope this is an isolated incident, and you move forward without him.
- Michael_Stuart

This is a time when he really NEEDS his teamates.

If keeping him away from the locker room is how you'd treat a rapist or murderer, I've got a few concerns.

Point is that I don't think this is a guy you want around all the young players. You hope this is an isolated incident, and you move forward without him.
- Michael_Stuart

What about the ones that party with him?

What about the ones that party with him?
- Vukota

I'd hope this was an isolated incident. But, if not, I hope they deal with it quickly and decisively.

I'd hope this was an isolated incident. But, if not, I hope they deal with it quickly and decisively.
- Michael_Stuart

The funny thing is I bet you inside the locker room its not a big deal at all.

The issue for me isn't the cocaine. His body, his money, his career, his futureAnd his right. The only real issue's I have are the DUI and the obvious affects of of the cocaine and booze on his play.

The issue for me isn't the cocaine. His body, his money, his career, his futureAnd his right. The only real issue's I have are the DUI and the obvious affects of of the cocaine and booze on his play.
- Artyukhin76

That's the big issue for me. He made a decision that could have impacted the lives of others.

The issue for me isn't the cocaine. His body, his money, his career, his futureAnd his right. The only real issue's I have are the DUI and the obvious affects of of the cocaine and booze on his play.
- Artyukhin76

wont argue with this

The issue for me isn't the cocaine. His body, his money, his career, his futureAnd his right. The only real issue's I have are the DUI and the obvious affects of of the cocaine and booze on his play.
- Artyukhin76

Very sad to wake up today and read this news! I hate reading about people part of the lightning family making a very bad choice! I hope friends and family help him during this time in his life. We know the lightning and Malone are going to part ways I just hope he gets help.

Tampa should be firm but supportive of mr. Malone. If he is willing to come clean, apologize and seek help, the organization should be willing to support him. They can do that and still welcome him back eventually. You said it sends a message to the players and maybe it does. But it could be a negative message. "I screw up and the team doesn't have my back." What if this is a problem with other players? Now or in the future. Malone should publicly admit he has a problem, get help and make it up to the community with service. Tampa can use that to show they support their players when they hit rock bottom and provide a positive example for the treatment of substance abuse and rehabilitation.

Tampa should be firm but supportive of mr. Malone. If he is willing to come clean, apologize and seek help, the organization should be willing to support him. They can do that and still welcome him back eventually. You said it sends a message to the players and maybe it does. But it could be a negative message. "I screw up and the team doesn't have my back." What if this is a problem with other players? Now or in the future. Malone should publicly admit he has a problem, get help and make it up to the community with service. Tampa can use that to show they support their players when they hit rock bottom and provide a positive example for the treatment of substance abuse and rehabilitation.
- ChrisMS

There's probably a double standard, but I feel like that would be a very viable option if Malone wasn't slated for a buyout anyways.

The cocaine will no doubt get most of the attention but that's not the dangerous part of what he did. Drinking and driving kills innocent people. Agree with the article completely.

Right or wrong, the charges against Varlamov were dropped. We haven't seen this Malone case through.

Further to that, how one team handles things like this versus another doesn't really impact my view. But it's just that... My view. You have yours. Neither is right or wrong.
- Michael_Stuart

Exactly Michael . People have opinions . Just because other people don't agree with whatever the opinion may be , doesn't mean you or they are wrong . That's the bottom line ... And after all , that's really all that matters in life .. The bottom line , the big picture

The bottom line here is that Ryan Malone disobeyed the law . He set a bad example for the you guys and I agree he should not be allowed back near the lightning . Bottom line is "we let drunk drivers and cocaine users play on our hockey team" ? Sorry but no , I don't care what anyone says that's the bottom line and it's not right. Even if you're 23 years old your still extremely impressionable ( I'm 20 ) . Yah u can make ur own decisions , your capable of it , but if a leader like Ryan Malone ( he is a leader in the room) is on cocaine and drunk driving then whatever .. You get the point

The DUI thing is pretty bad. But be real how common is this among many demographics. He made a mistake.

Oh and imagine they kicked everyone off NHL teams for partying with coke. You'd likely lose half the league.

That....blows.

Look at it this way. If you work in a professional office environment and get arrested and charged with cocaine possession, you're probably not going to be welcome around the office moving forward.
- Michael_Stuart

Not really true most of the time. A lot of businesses/corporations have to keep the employee on with a treatment program. There is some gray area with la possibility of law suits. I've seen it in health care in some circumstances that people clearly should have been fired and could not be.

and for sure we know he's not the only 1 that is using that substance...lots of cash allows these boys to play with whatever they choose.
- Garnie

Guy ruined the party for everyone else by getting caught

That....blows.
- BoringBob69