Lightning's Ryan Malone charged with cocaine possession, DUI
TAMPA, Fla. -- Tampa Bay Lightning winger Ryan Malone was arrested on charges of cocaine possession and driving under the influence early Saturday morning.
According to a Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office incident report, Malone was arrested at 3:23 a.m. near Platt Street West and Rome Avenue South in Tampa. He was booked on a $2,500 bond -- $2,000 for the cocaine possession charge and $500 for the DUI charge. His booking time was 5:40 a.m.
He was released on bond at 9:56 a.m.
Malone, 34, will not travel with the Lightning to their regular-season finale against the Washington Capitals, which will be held Sunday at the Verizon Center.
"We are aware of the situation concerning Ryan Malone this morning," Lightning vice president and general manager Steve Yzerman said in a statement. "Ryan will not travel with the team to Washington today but beyond that we can not comment further at this time."
The arrest adds to Malone's disappointing season. The 10-year veteran has 15 points and five goals in 57 games. This will be the lowest point-production season of his career during campaigns in which he has appeared in more than 24 games. His previous low was 31 points with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2006-2007.
"We are aware of the situation this morning involving Tampa Bay Lightning forward Ryan Malone," Bill Daly, deputy commissioner of the NHL, said in a statement. "Under the terms of the collectively bargained joint NHL/NHLPA Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health Program, Mr. Malone is subject to mandatory evaluation and, if deemed necessary by the Program Doctors, treatment pursuant to the terms of that Program. His future playing status, both in the near term and during the Playoffs, will be determined in accordance the terms of our SABH Program.”
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