Schmidt was just the fifth NHL player suspended for PEDs since the league's current CBA was ratified in '13GETTY IMAGES
Golden Knights D Nate Schmidt said that he has "worked with the NHLPA in an effort to change the league's minimum threshold for a PED violation" after being suspended for the first 20 games of the '18-19 season for violating the NHL/NHLPA Performance Enhancing Substances Program, according to Greg Wyshynski of ESPN.com. The topic has been "discussed recently as part of the ongoing collective bargaining talks between the players and the NHL," and there is "reason for optimism that the policy will be amended." The 20-game ban was "notable for its rarity, as Schmidt was the fifth NHL player suspended for PEDs since the league's current CBA was ratified" in '13. The Golden Knights "emphatically stood by their player" and Schmidt himself "released a detailed statement vehemently denying PED use." Both Schmidt's agent and the NHLPA confirm that he has been a "'passionate' voice in trying to get the testing thresholds raised." While these discussions "would have likely occurred anyway during the CBA talks, Schmidt raised so much awareness about the perceived injustice of his suspension that it served as an important example for why the standards might need to be amended" (ESPN.com, 9/23).
