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It’s September, Devils fans. You know what that means? We get Devils hockey this month. Here are your links for today:
Devils Links
Gambling site Bodog has released its over/under point projections for each team for the 2018-19 season. Bodog’s projection for New Jersey: 91.5 points. Are you taking the over or the under on that number? [The Hockey News]
Hockey Links
Vegas defenseman Nate Schmidt has been suspended 20 games by the league for violating its performance-enhancing substances policy. It’s not clear what drug or substance showed up in Schmidt’s system, but it is clear the league is taking a zero-tolerance stance here. Schmidt is defending himself, saying that, “Not only did I not intentionally take a banned substance, I could not have received any performance enhancement benefit from the trace amount that inadvertently got into my system at a level that was far too small to have any effect.” [TSN]
More:
Nate Schmidt's appeal of his positive test was heard before Impartial Arbitrator George Nicolau.
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) September 2, 2018
Schmidt issued his own statement via @NHLPA saying “I will not accept being labeled a cheater.” He says expert testified at his hearing as banned substance equaled “7 billionths of a milligram/mL – as the equivalent of a pinch of salt in an Olympic-sized swimming pool.” pic.twitter.com/WoMgusHEYN
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) September 2, 2018
So who’s left in the bottom of the UFA bargain bin? A few names of guys who don’t have contracts yet, as we near the start of the season: [The Hockey News]
Feel free to discuss these and any other hockey-related stories in the comments below.