In Scott Darling’s opinion, the player should not seek help from the NHL.
Scott Darling won the Stanley Cup. PDO
Former NHL goaltender Scott Darling criticized the league’s substance abuse program in very strong terms.
The NHL and its players’ association, the NHLPA, have a joint program that aims to help players suffering from substance abuse and mental health problems. Darling, who represented the Chicago Blackhawks and Carolina Hurricanes, does not give the project a clean slate.
– I told the players what I experienced. If you need help, do it yourself. Don’t even go to the program. I’m serious about this. They are monsters, the ex-hockey player uploaded What Chaos! on the podcast.
If the video does not appear, you can watch its here.
In Darling’s opinion, the biggest drawback is that applying to the program involves the threat of terminating the player’s contract.
– They are trying to get you to break your contract. If you walk out, the NHL can void your contract.
According to Yahoo Sports The NHL’s contracts do not state that leaving the program automatically means terminating the player’s contract. According to an agent source, leaving could be the reason for terminating the contract, but it would be a “complicated battle”.
The program was established in 1996 so that every player would have access to professional help. In Darling’s opinion, the task would need more people willing to help than currently.
– If you can’t trust the people who are trying to help, why would you go there?
Great career
Darling’s road to the NHL was a whirlwind. The goalkeeper played two short seasons in the university league, where he said he partied too much. His professional career began in the SPHL, three league levels below the NHL.
The American guard made a breakthrough in the NHL in the 2014-2015 season. In his debut season in Chicago, he played 14 regular season games with a save percentage of 93.6 and a goals-against average of 1.95. The season ended with the Stanley Cup.
Darling also has a WC bronze under his belt. He has suffered from anxiety, depression, an alcohol problem and sexual trauma.
The goalkeeper ended his career in the AHL in the 2020–2021 season.