Doctors treating Blackhawks winger Theo Fleury determined Wednesday night that the incident involving him and two teammates early Sunday outside a strip club in Columbus, Ohio, does not warrant suspension.
They could have placed him in Stage 3 of the NHL’s substance-abuse aftercare program, which would have carried a minimum six-month suspension.
Fleury will play Thursday night when the Hawks meet the St. Louis Blues at the United Center.
“The incident in Columbus is being handled as an internal team matter,” the Hawks said in a statement. “Fleury will remain in the aftercare program.”
Fleury has a history of substance abuse and he served a 25-game suspension at the beginning of this season for violating the provisions of the NHL’s aftercare program.
He addressed the Columbus episode, which included a police report from that morning that stated Fleury “was intoxicated,” for the first time Wednesday.
“I made a bad choice and I made a bad decision,” he said before learning the consequences of his actions.
Fleury and two unidentified teammates still face disciplinary action from the Hawks.
“Team rules were broken,” coach Brian Sutter said. “Those things happen. They’re going to be disciplined.”
The club is likely to fine the three. But it could have been much worse for Fleury.
If Fleury had been found in violation of his aftercare program, he would have been suspended immediately and his career would be in doubt. He is in the first season of a two-year deal worth $4 million annually.
A police report filed by an officer at the scene Sunday described Fleury as “intoxicated,” but the officer told the Tribune on Tuesday that it was his “opinion” and that he did not administer tests to determine if Fleury had been drinking.
Hawks general manager Mike Smith said Wednesday afternoon that even if Fleury had a relapse, his physicians may not see that as cause for suspension and that relapses are part of the recovery process.
Even if Fleury had not been drinking, his physicians could have suspended him for violating the program by putting himself in that position.
Smith also said Wednesday that Fleury’s “sober companion,” Jim Jenkins, would remain with the club, though Jenkins was not with Fleury when he left the team hotel early Sunday morning.
“He knows his job description,” Sutter said of Jenkins, which is to help Fleury in the aftercare program.
NHL spokesman Frank Brown said Wednesday the league would not issue a statement on Fleury or the incident in Columbus and declined comment on the status of the league’s investigation.
Brown also said the league would defer to Fleury’s doctors regarding a suspension.
Fleury addressed teammates before practice Wednesday but did not reveal what he said.
“Whatever happens in our dressing room stays in our dressing room,” Fleury said. “I felt I needed to express how I felt toward them. We’re dealing with it internally, which I think is the best way to do this.”
Winger Steve Sullivan said the team addressed the situation and put it to rest.
“We dealt with it the day after it happened,” he said. “After that, it was swept underneath the rug for us.”
The fact Fleury won’t be suspended was welcome news to a Hawks team mired in a three-game losing streak and preparing for a seven-game trip beginning Saturday. After inching close to first place in the Central Division, the Hawks barely would qualify for the playoffs now.”He’s the guy we’re going to need if we make a serious push in the playoffs,” Sullivan said.
