1:30pm: Vegas GM George McPhee held a press conference to address the news, and explained how the team found out. McPhee told reporters including Jesse Granger of The Athletic that Zykov admitted to taking the supplement that caused the positive test for four years.
12:35pm: Vegas Golden Knights forward Valentin Zykov has been suspended 20 games for violating the terms of the NHL/NHLPA Performance Enhancing Substances Program. This is the second consecutive year the Golden Knights have lost a player for a suspension like this, after Nate Schmidt was handed a 20-game ban last season. The Golden Knights released a statement:
We were notified by the NHL and NHLPA that Valentin has violated the terms of the NHL/NHLPA Performance Enhancing Substances Program. We monitor the nutrition, supplement intake and overall diet of our athletes on a continual basis throughout the entire season. Valentin knowingly used a banned substance without the consent, recommendation or knowledge of our team. We support the NHL/NHLPA Performance Enhancing Substances Program and respect the decision here.
Zykov also released a statement through the NHLPA:
I have been informed that I am being suspended for 20 games under the NHL/NHLPA Performance Enhancing Substances Program. While I haven’t been able to discover how I tested positive, I understand that I am responsible for what is in my body and will accept this penalty. I want to apologize to my family, my teammates and the Golden Knights organization and fans. I will work hard during my suspension to ensure that I put myself in the best possible position to contribute to my team when my suspension is over.
The 24-year old forward has played seven games with the Golden Knights this season, registering two points in limited ice time. Originally a second-round selection of the Los Angeles Kings, he has just 47 games under his belt at the NHL level and played for three different organizations during the 2018-19 season.
On the second season of a two-year contract that carries a $675K cap hit and scheduled to become a restricted free agent next summer, this suspension will not help Zykov’s quest to become a full-time NHL player.
He is eligible to return for the Golden Knights game on November 29th against the Arizona Coyotes.
nice of him to admit it at least
“I do t know how I could’ve tested positive, but I’ve been taking PED’s for 4 years”
Got it
The Kings drafted him. Cost us the illustrious Kris Verteeg.
For some reason I make this mistake almost every time I write about Zykov. Fixed.
Zykov was drafted by the Kings, not the Hurricanes. LA drafted him in the 2nd round (37th overall) in the 2013 draft. He was dealt to Carolina for Kris Versteeg on 2/28/2016. Carolina placed him on waivers in 2018 and the Oilers picked him up. After 5 games with Edmonton they waived him and the Knights picked him up.
typical baa baaa baaaaaad , comment on statement about Zykov there , goat can you ever make a positive statement? baaaaaaaaaad!
What are you talking about? Let me rephrase that for you I guess.
Good for Zykov, I also love trying new things.
Is that better? Typical bad comments? Lmao
Gerald, to be fair, JD was simply pointing out Zykov’s hypocrisy. Unfortunately, more often than not, this kind of statement comes as a result of being shown the real/metaphorical video of his hand in the cookie jar.
Gerald ,
Good one lol
By statement I have been taking PED’s for 4 years, you only make bad comments about everybody else’s players, GM , or Ottawa GM(only time you have said something bad about Ottawa-clarified) , haven’t never seen you talk bad about Senator players since you are a Sens fan , that is all I am saying , Zykov made some bad choices he owned up to those mistakes in getting the suspension, Would like to hear one good statement about a player,would be nice change for once on your end.
You’re honestly joking, right? There’s no possible way you believe what you just wrote? Because if you do, I’m going to need at least an example. I’ve never even responded to you before and definitely won’t anymore after this dumb accusation.
Like cmon man. There was literally just a post about your teams top prospect where I defended the player and said he’s going to be a stud. But you do you and make your own things up. Never said anything bad about Sens? You should’ve been around for the Ceci-Harpur days I guess.
Gerald ,
You sure hit that nail on the head.
Never have said I was a Ottawa Senator fan, your the sens fan here, Senators never was topic on this story it’s about Valentin Zykov , by some glasses and re read article. you claim to be Senators fan and you dish and talk bad about your GM every time. Drop it , all bridge under water the bridge, not gonna let your biased affect me ! Au Revoir.
Wtf are you talking about my god I’ve never even talked to you before. And you’ve obviously got me mixed up with someone else because I’m not negative, biased, and don’t know the last time I said anything about Dorion. Don’t say all my comments are bad and then tell me to drop it or act like your a victim for some reason my god.
Mac I agree with you , Zykov made a lot of bad choices as you say verbal hand in cookie jar scenario, it was nothing personal against JD , it was the statement made , Zykov never said those words , it was putting those words in his mouth, in a negative aspect.
JD you wrote the statement , of him saying I took PED”s for 4 years, that is my example of your comments, so if you don’t want to talk to me fine, I have nothing against you personally I never accused you of nothing you wrote statement. OH! Well
Screw this blog and everyone.
Gerald, I, for one, don’t want to see you abandon the blog. You know guys are going to express their opinions and sometimes it gets a bit heated. Most hockey blogs are like that. We fans of The Coolest Game on Earth have a tendency to express our opinions about players/teams/GMs/Owners unlike any other sport. As I have mentioned in the past, you have a RIGHT to express your opinion. It make evoke a response from one or more posters, or maybe not at all. Kinda like mine. Sometimes it can be tough to keep the conversation between the dots, but that’s life. I like seeing your takes on stuff. The more opinions we have here the better. One less poster is never a good thing. So, please reconsider and stay in the fray with us.
Gerald,
Don’t leave without you on here it wouldn’t be the same. Always a blast conversing.
I’ll try , just sick of the negativity and derogatory statements , about players that make bad choices made in life . I can’t excuse my actions your’e right it’s my opinion , I can admit my shortcomings and character defects, some can’t cause some think they are always right.
That’s the ticket! Chin up and on to the next article! :)
Thanks Mac want leave, and want let him affect me again I’ve washed my hands with him!
Dude you attacked me for no reason. I’ve lost all respect for you and now you’re trying to play victim? Thanks for being an a** for literally no reason at all.
Stop trying to cover your ass by deflecting everything back on me, I am not the one playing the victim here was just trying to get you to look at the words you wrote about a player in a derogatory way. You are always, as have witnesses that you always bad mouth Dorian, and you claim to be a fan of Ottawa. Ottawa is not my team. and never will be , I do follow all teams, I never attacked you ,now your playing the victim by deflecting it on me to make yourself look better. Thanks for compliment on being an ass , for reason am arguing with an idiot. I didn’t come here to seek respect from you or no one if you can’t deal with it don’t feel bad will put you on top of my list. , just here to comment on Hockey , but with you never. so again Au Revoir
Another baaaa baaaaaaa baaaaadddd comment. Stop making stuff up man. Attacking Dorion? Derogatory? If you have a problem with me calling out a liar, that’s on you, not me. And again, you have such a problem with my posts, yet can’t come up with anyone I’ve been “negative” about except for one liar. As if there’s even a problem with that.
McPhee absolutely throws Zykov under the bus. Completely different from his support of Schmidt last season.