It was untreated anxiety and depression that Colorado Avalanche defenseman Samuel Girard blamed for his alcohol abuse, a problem that reached the point where he needed to step away from hockey.
He made a decision to leave the Avalanche and enter the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program earlier this season. Girard returned to practice a month later, resumed playing and declared: “It changed my life.”
Girard was the first of five players to step away this season to receive care from the program jointly run by the league and union — the same number of players who sought help over the previous three years combined. The participation increase is credited in part to a growing belief in the venture that has been around since 1996, as well as a reflection of the general population seeking more help since the pandemic.
“I think what has happened is the players have developed a real comfort level that the counselors, the people that run the program, can be trusted because there’s a fair amount of confidentiality involved,” NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said.
Valeri Nichushkin (Colorado), Patrik Laine (Columbus), Evgeny Kuznetsov (then Washington now Carolina) and Ethan Bear (Washington) followed Girard into the program this season. Like Girard, Nichushkin and Kuznetsov returned to play; Bear was cleared just after the Capitals were eliminated from the playoffs.
The program was in the headlines this week after Nichushkin was suspended for six months on Monday for violating terms of the program. The news caught the Avalanche by surprise, including coach Jared Bednar, who paused during a news conference to note the importance of Nichushkin getting the support he needs.
“I’ve gotten to know Val as a person and I’ve gotten to know him as one of our teammates and I want what’s best for him,” Bednar said. “I want him to be happy and I want him to be content in his life, whether that is with our team or not with our team. I want the best for him and his family. I think all of our guys are the same. We hope that he can find some peace and get help.”
THE PROGRAM
Confidentiality is guaranteed for players and their family members, at least when it comes to details. An announcement is only made when a player becomes unavailable to his team during the season.
“We don’t get much information on it,” Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan said. “The parameters of the program are…
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