Zenon Konopka wants NHL return to finish career on his terms

Zenon Konopka may not be through with hockey just yet.

The veteran tough guy, who amassed over 1,000 penalty minutes in 346 NHL games, is interested in making a return to the big leagues so he can finish his career on his terms.

"There’s a lot of miles on this body," Konopka told Bill Hoppe of the Olean Times Herald.

Konopka was suspended for 20 games for violating the terms of the NHL/NHLPA Performance Enhancing Substances Program in May 2014 after taking a supplement from a CVS drug store, a decision he regrets, but doesn't think deserved such a harsh punishment.

"I pride myself on being an upstanding hockey player,” Konopka said. “As … intense as I get on the ice sometimes, you look and I don’t think I’ve ever been suspended in the NHL. You always keep it within the rules. Sometimes you push the rules, but to have something like that happen was frustrating.

"All you have to do is turn on the TV. That was the same time a lot of stuff was going on in the NFL off the field. We’re talking about wives, girlfriends getting beat up. I’m looking and thinking I’m down for 45 games for something I took at CVS."

Hoppe reports "Konopka said 45 games had passed when the league finally ended the suspension, which would’ve started when a team signed him."

The 34-year-old last played in an 11-game stint with Polish hockey club KH Sanok, so he's obviously rusty, but determined to finish out his career the way he wants.

"I think that’s probably the only thing that’s bringing me back."

Konopka earned 30 points in his career.