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Former NHLer Kevin Stevens sentenced in drug case

josh cooper
1992: KEVIN STEVENS, FORWARD OF THE PITTSBURGH PENGUINS IN ACTION. Mandatory Credit: ALLSPORT
1992: KEVIN STEVENS, FORWARD OF THE PITTSBURGH PENGUINS IN ACTION. Mandatory Credit: ALLSPORT

Former NHLer Kevin Stevens was sentenced to probation and also ordered to pay a fine of $10,000 for conspiring to sell the painkiller oxycodone, The Boston Globe reported.

A government release said Stevens probation sentence was for three years. Stevens was sentenced in Boston.

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According to The Globe, prosecutors asked that the 52-year-old Stevens serve a year in prison, which was less than what Stevens faced under sentencing guidelines. Instead, U.S. District Judge George A. O’Toole Jr. wanted to help Stevens rehabilitate himself rather than punish the veteran of 874 NHL games.

O’Toole also ordered Stevens, a two-time Stanley Cup champion, to give motivational speeches about addiction and prescription drugs.

In May of 2016, Stevens was charged along with another man with conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute oxycodone. According to the release, Stevens was stopped by Massachusetts State Police in November of 2015 with 175 oxycodone pills “that were intended for redistribution.” In December of 2016, Stevens pled guilty.

Stevens’ lawyer Paul V. Kelly reportedly argued that Stevens was prescribed oxycodone after a gruesome facial injury in the 1993 Stanley Cup Playoffs. A Rich Pilon hit knocked out Stevens initially and then Stevens’ face hit the ice on his ensuing fall, doing further damage. Kelly said that Stevens has not recovered from the brain trauma or other injuries from that play.

This is not Steven’s first run-in with the law involving drugs.

In 2000, Stevens was arrested while a member of the New York Rangers and charged with soliciting a prostitute and possessing drug paraphernalia. The police report stated that Stevens was arrested with a prostitute while the team was in St. Louis and crack cocaine was found.

Stevens recently worked as a pro scout with the Pittsburgh Penguins, leaving the role in 2011 to spend more time with his family.

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Before his injury in 1993, Stevens was one of the top power forwards in the game – notching seasons of 54 and 55 goals and 123 and 111 points with the Penguins in 1991-92 and 1992-93 respectively.

He reached 88 points the season after the injury but then never notched more than 23 goals or 43 points in a single season for the rest of his career.

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Josh Cooper is an editor for Puck Daddy on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!

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