FFS you don't think MD's break patient confidentiality what planet are you living on? Salming partied hard. He did coke. He loved LA - hookers and blow. Ballard caught wind that one or more of the team members were partying after hours, breaking curfew. He called Sittler into his office and demanded to know the name(s) of the players. Sittler wouldn't rat. So in retaliation he demanded that Punch Imlach trade Lanny MacDonald immediately. You gotta stop believing wikipedia like it's the gospel.I call BS.
First of all, the doctor was breaking Dr./patient confidentiality which would land him in big trouble.
Secondly, it is well known that Ballard wanted to get rid of Sittler but he had a no trade clause which wouldn't waive at that time. Since he couldn't do that, he traded Lanny, Sittler's best friend out of spite.