Cocaine is on the rise in the NHL and more rigorous testing might be implemented sooner rather than later. NHLPA union director Donald Fehr tried to put this issue on the very top of his to do list, and privately met with NHL teams about the rising use of cocaine and the inherent dangers using an illegal narcotic in a game situation could pose.
The standard drug testing for performance enhancing drugs that the NHL implements twice a year will likely add a test that will detect cocaine in a more comprehensive way.
A positive test for cocaine will likely yield a trip to the NHL/NHLPA substance abuse program instead of a suspension. Stricter testing is necessary for a problem that has become so rampant however several high profile incidents made the issue more visible to the public more than ever before.
In April of 2015 former Los Angeles King and current New York Ranger Jarret Stoll was charged with felony cocaine possession. Stoll ended up pleading out to a pair of misdemeanors and kept himself out of jail however that would be the end of his Kings career.
Another incident occurred in the same month as the former Tampa Bay Lightning player Ryan Malone was arrested and charged with cocaine possession and a DUI. Before cocaine testing happens the players/NHLPA will have to sign off.
