IIRC, The NHL prohibited JK from drinking due to his past infractions with drugs. While that might sound like par for the course to us N.Americans, accustomed as we are to Puritanism and pop-culture references to AA, consider it from the perspective of Europeans. The concept of alcoholism is far less pervasive in most European countries than it is here, so, for example, having a beer at lunch is regarded as fairly commonplace. In fact, I recall reading an article years ago describing how, in order to combat habitual consumption of sugary beverages, one Belgian school district was experimenting with serving a low-alcohol beer to its elementary students instead of soda. Although I doubt that lasted very long, it does suggest that alcohol abuse is a much lower priority overseas.
My impression when JK left the NHL was that he was "opting" to play in a league with a less comprehensive and invasive substance abuse policy. I think being expected to stay off (hard) drugs is totally reasonable for an athlete, and I would expect that any elite professional league would make the same requirements (most contracts in any profession permit termination or discipline due to criminal activity). But the NHL added the condition that JK remain completely sober, refraining even from alcohol consumption (which is legal in this country for any adult over 21). To a European, this would be like being prohibited from skateboarding because you once stole a car.
Obviously, JK's "demons" have gotten the better of him at this point. But it's not as though he was shooting up in the locker room while he played for the Kings (one would assume). Ultimately, JK is responsible for his own actions, but the NHL's very American substance abuse policies do suffer from some cultural inconsistencies considering the highly international nature of the players.
Oh well, a Finnish prison is probably nicer than my apartment anyway. | 
