Image via WikipediaThere are three stories that I have been following today. Former NHL tough Guy
Wade Belak (
549 games 8g-25a-33pts 1263PIM) was found dead in his condo in
Toronto, Ont... Wade Belak is the third current or former NHL hockey player that has died this summer during the offseason,
Derek Boogaard and
Rick Rypien also died this summer.
NHL.COM --- Former NHL player Wade Belak has been found dead in his condominium in Toronto. Belak, who played in parts of 14 seasons with five NHL teams, was 35 years old.
A source with the Nashville Predators confirmed the news. Belak finished his career with the Predators and remained with the team in an organizational role following his retirement.
According to reports, the cause of death was not immediately known, but foul play was not suspected.
Also it was revealed today that
Boston Bruins star center
Marc Savard has not improved and will miss the 2011-2012 season. Marc Savard is still suffering from post concussion syndrome and you have to think that his career with the Boston Bruins is in jeopardy.
Boston Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli does not expect Marc Savard to play this coming season, Fluto Shinzawa of the Boston Globe reports.
Savard played 25 games last season, but his campaign started late because of symptoms from a concussion in 2009-10 and ended in January after another concussion.
"Marc Savard won't play this year," Chiarelli told Shinzawa on Wednesday. "Nothing has changed in our monitoring. He'll be examined and he'll be declared unfit to play."
The 34-year-old center had two goals and 10 points last season. In the four seasons before his first concussion in March 2010, Savard averaged more than 89 points and was considered one of the top passers in the League.
If the news couldn't get any worse, today we also learn that former
Minnesota Wild and Anaheim Duck's tough guy
Todd Fedoruk is also battling addiction issues.
VANCOUVER — You have to give Todd Fedoruk credit; he isn’t shy about discussing his drug and alcohol addictions which he says were the real reason he was bought out in Tampa, ending his NHL career unless he should happen to catch on with the Vancouver Canucks this fall.
The winger says he’s been clean for nearly 18 months, is in terrific shape and is ready to drop the gloves as part of the role he has to play if he’s going to be a regular in the league as he has been for nine seasons, most of those with the Philadelphia Flyers.
Fedoruk has had many legendary fights, the most devastating being the shattering of his face by the late Derek Boogaard in October 2006 when the prospective Canuck was in Anaheim. It had to be rebuilt by doctors.
The first question that comes to mind is what is going on here? Something is not right in the NHL. At first glance one has to wonder if the NHL has a problem with players suffering from depression... Add to that, one has wonder if the NHL also a Drug and alcohol problem. My next question does the NHL have a peer support and counseling service for their players. I am serious these are very serious issues.
Image via WikipediaThere are three stories that I have been following today. Former NHL tough Guy Wade Belak (549 games 8g-25a-33pts 1263PIM) was found dead in his condo in Toronto, Ont... Wade Belak is the third current or former NHL hockey player that has died this summer during the offseason, Derek Boogaard and Rick Rypien also died this summer. 
