Dallas Stars Daily Links: The NHL and Performance Enhancing Drugs

Editor's Note: Some technical problems apparently sent this morning's links post into the ether never to return, so I have stepped in as best I can. You've been warned.

All of the talk around sports lately has surrounded performance enhancing drugs, testing for banned substances, and suspensions resulting from said activity. Hockey is one of those sports that has seemingly dodged the bullet, as there have been zero suspensions related to PED's in the NHL since 2004-2005. It's just not an issue that has been tied to hockey and the NHL, but that doesn't mean the NHL is completely void of substance-related issues.

The problem in the NHL, at least lately, has been related to the use of sleeping pills and painkillers. There was recently a death of a current NHL player related to his drug use, and only recently did the NHL and NHLPA come to agreement on a more stringent drug use and testing policy.

Larry Brooks of the NY Post even goes so far to say that the restricted use of painkillers could lead to less fighting moving forward.No doubt overdue, the NHL and NHLPA did address the matter of controlling player access to prescription drugs and sleep aids in crafting new procedures that went into effect at the beginning of last season.

The likelihood is that restricting access to painkillers will do more to eliminate fighting from the game than any on-ice rule initiative the league might ponder. As it becomes less and less possible to dull a heavyweight's senses, the more senseless it will be for heavyweights to drop their gloves.

It's an interesting theory, at least.

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The Dallas Business Journal has a detailed article on the new dynamic and premium ticket pricing system the Dallas Stars are using this season. {DBJ}

A Yahoo! Sports Expert ranks Kari Lehtonen as the No. 15 goalie in the NHL. {Yahoo!}

The NHL hates goaltenders and wants to make their job even harder because "goals are cool and stuff." {CBS Sports}

An expansion team that doesn't have any money and is located in the Middle of Nowhere, Russia (which means it's basically Mars, I guess) says they have made a contract offer to Ilya Bryzgalov. I wonder how long he paused from counting his money to consider the offer. {Philly.com}

Well, this would be good for the rivalry with Nashville. Jordin Tootoo back to the Preds? {George Malik}

If the NHL really is so supportive of LGBT rights, why aren't they boycotting the Sochi Olympics? {The Guardian}

Mark Stepneski has profiles of Alex Chiasson and Brett Ritchie as the latest in his offseason prospect series. {Stars Inside Edge}

Here's some fun video. A highlight video of Todd Harvey, whose trade provided some key pieces of the Stanley Cup winning team in 1999.