NHL won’t change rules on marijuana
Deputy commissioner Bill Daly says the NHL does not expect to change its rules on marijuana with the legalization of cannabis in Canada coming on Oct. 17.
Daly said in an interview with The Associated Press on Thursday that the move won’t affect the NHL/NHLPA drug-testing policy. Daly said the league tests for marijuana but a positive test by itself does not lead to a suspension.
Rather than altering that stance, Daly said the league and Players’ Association are ramping up efforts to educate players about the details. The NHL has seven teams based in Canada while Colorado, home to the Avalanche, allows some legal use of marijuana.
Islanders get OK
on renovation break
The Nassau County Industrial Development Agency has approved tax breaks for the New York Islanders’ planned renovations at NYCB Live’s Nassau Coliseum.
Newsday says completion of $9.95 million in interior upgrades would allow the hockey team to return to Uniondale for three years while a new arena at Belmont Park is developed.
The Islanders plan to split their schedule between the Coliseum and Brooklyn’s Barclays Center over three seasons. They’ll play at least 60 games at their former home arena during that period.
An attorney for BSE Global, which operates both venues, says the improvements need to be completed by Dec. 1, when the Islanders host the Columbus Blue Jackets in Uniondale.
The work’s being funded with a $6 million state grant and $3.9 million from the team.
Blues get winger back
St. Louis Blues winger Vladimir Tarasenko hopes to be on the ice for the start of training camp next, week five months after undergoing reconstructive surgery on his left shoulder.
Tarasenko says he spent most of his summer rehabbing and is close to being cleared to play. He resumed skating at informal workouts in St. Louis on Monday and reported his shooting getting back to normal.
The 26-year-old Russian separated his shoulder on a collision with Colorado captain Gabriel Landeskog in each team’s regular-season finale April 7. He had surgery April 11, with general manager Doug Armstrong saying he expected a four-to-six-month timeframe for Tarasenko’s recovery.
Tarasenko led the Blues with 33 goals and was second on the team with 66 points last season. St. Louis missed the playoffs by one point.