Nashville Predators forward Michael McCarron enters NHL's player assistance program

The NHL announced today that forward Michael McCarron has entered the league's player assistance program.

The program, which started in 1996, is a joint venture with the NHL and the NHL Player's Association. It helps players with mental health, substance abuse, and other family matters. As part of the program, players are away from their team for an indefinite period of time while they address whatever issues they are having.

As noted in the release above, McCarron will still receive a paycheck while in the program. There is no timetable for return for players in the program. They return to their team whenever the program administrators deem them cleared to play.

McCarron is the most recent Predators player to enter the program, and the first since Connor Ingram entered the program in early 2021. Ingram returned in October and earned in his first ever NHL win in Minnesota on October 24th.

Michael McCarron, a former first round pick with the Montreal Canadiens, has played in 15 games for the Nashville Predators this season. He has one goal and one assist, plus has been an important part of the Preds' penalty kill unit.

But the priority for McCarron should be his own mental health and personal well being, so hopefully this program can help him do that.

-- Featured image via Christopher Hanewinckel/USA TODAY Sports --