Former first round pick Michael McCarron enters NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program.

A former first round pick has fallen from grace, but thankfully we live in an era where there will be plenty of assistance around him to help pick him back up.

On Sunday, the National Hockey League and the National Hockey League Players Association released a joint statement in which they revealed that Nashville Predators forward Michael McCarron would be entering the Player Assistance Program effective immediately.

Here is their full statement, unedited and in full, as per the league's official website:

The National Hockey League Players’ Association and National Hockey League announced today that forward Michael McCarron of the Nashville Predators will be unavailable to his Club for an indefinite period while he receives care from the player assistance program of the NHL and NHLPA.

Under the terms of the joint program, McCarron will continue to be paid while receiving treatment. He will return to the Club when cleared for on-ice competition by the program administrators.

McCarron’s care will be administered pursuant to the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program.

McCarron is a former first round pick of the Montreal Canadiens (25th overall) at the 2013 NHL Entry Draft and has spent time playing at the NHL level with both the Habs and the aforementioned Predators. This season McCarron has appeared in 15 games for the Predators and has 1 goal and 1 assist to his name for a total of 2 points on the season.

We wish him a full and speedy recovery.