Report: Ryan Malone DUI plea; cocaine charge may be dismissed

According to Tampa Bay Lightning beat writer Joe Smith, Ryan Malone pled no contest to a DUI charge on Tuesday morning. He'll now enter a pre-trial intervention program in relation to the cocaine charge he faced as a result of the same April arrest.

Looks like Ryan Malone lawyered up well. According to Tampa Bay Lightning beat writer Joe Smith, the free-agent winger pled no contest to a DUI charge on Tuesday morning. He'll now enter a pre-trial intervention program in relation to the cocaine possession charge he's facing as a result of the same April arrest. If he completes the program, that charge will be dropped.

With pre-trial intervention program, Malone's charge of cocaine possession will be dismissed if he completes requirements.

— Joe Smith (@JoeSmithNHL) August 19, 2014

Smith also reported that the 34-year-old is in contact with a couple of teams that might be willing to give him a chance to play this season. Having this issue resolved certainly helps his chances of landing with another club, but after a dismal season in which his hands were as slow as his legs he's a long shot to land an NHL gig. If he does catch on, it's expected that he first would have to submit to evaluation through the substance abuse and behavioral health program run jointly by the NHL and the players' association.