Then and Now: Nolan Baumgartner

By Craig F
Posted on 01/02/2013 at 9:00 am

After the New York Islanders picked Brett Lindros ninth overall in the 1994 NHL Draft, the Washington Capitals selected defenseman Nolan Baumgartner. The four players picked after the Canadian d-man were former San Jose Shark and New Jersey Devil Jeff Friesen, Wade Belak, Mattias Ohlund, and Ethan Moreau. All four of those players turned out to play more seasons in the NHL than Baumgartner, who totaled 10 years at hockey’s highest level. Baumgartner suited up for the Caps, Chicago Blackhawks, Vancouver Canucks, and the Pittsburgh Penguins before he became a member of the Philadelphia Flyers in 2006. The blue liner signed …

Revisiting the painkiller problem

By Marcello De Feo
Posted on 09/23/2011 at 3:11 pm

After the tragic losses of NHL enforcers due to suicide or overdoses this off-season, a handful of former players spoke out about the elephant in the room. “Today the biggest problem, which isn’t talked about…is pills,” said Ian Laperriere. It’s painkillers.” In an interview with Sports Illustrated, Laperriere said that painkillers were appropriate when necessary but that some players were taking them just for the buzz. He suggested that he saw four or five guys on each of his former teams taking pills, whether or not they were needed. “There is also a huge, huge problem when guys take them …

A call to action

By Marcello De Feo
Posted on 09/01/2011 at 9:00 am

The death of former NHL enforcer, Bob Probert, came as a big shock to the NHL community last year. The fighter had a checkered past, riddled with drug and alcohol issues and legal troubles but he was still young (45) when he died on his boat in Ontario. At the time, his death was an isolated incident, something people hoped not to see again. Sadly, it began a trend among hockey pugilists. Less than two months later, the highly-respected Jason Smith, former captain of the Philadelphia Flyers and NHL tough guy, was arrested for domestic abuse last September. Nobody saw that …