Singin the BLUES wrote:Sure it is a story, u have players betting on games and no one reallllllly knows if they are betting for or against their own teams.......U have players like Ovies that only show up when they want to and sometimes that can be a little bit of a sign....and if any player comes and goes with his skill on the ice....Vanek is for SURE one of them
Depending on what records were destroyed if they got a heads up on a raid, then, no, you have no idea if they were betting on the NHL. But all of this cynicism about sports betting causing players to bet against themselves is silly. College players have done it and there have been point-shaving scandals in the past, but they're not making any money. Pete Rose is the only big name professional to have gotten caught and of course there was referee Tim Donaghy in the NBA, who, by the way, now owns a website where he and other handicappers sell picks to customers.
I highly, highly doubt he was betting on hockey. It's far too risky. Horses or football, who doesn't do that? Hell, you're "betting" on football every time you make a lineup change in a fantasy football league with an entry fee.
Players float because it's a long season and it's in their personality. Not because they're betting against their own team.