Los Angeles Kings defenceman Slava Voynov has been suspended indefinetely by the NHL, while the league investigates his arrest on domestic violence charges. Voynov is suspended with pay, but cannot practice with or play for the team.
The NHL announced the suspension citing Section 18-1.5 of the collective bargaining agreement, which gives it the power to suspend a player during a criminal investigation if failing to do so “would create a substantial risk of material harm to the legitimate interests and/or reputation of the league.”
One will recall that just last year Semyon Varlamov of the Colorado Avalanche was not suspended when he was up on similar charges. Those charges were laters dropped. However, this suspension comes on the heels of several high profile NFL cases such as Ray Rice, Adrian Peterson and Greg Hardy, and public and media pressure on sports leagues with stars accused of domestic violence is intense right now.
Last month, commissioner Gary Bettman spoke out about the NHL’s stance on domestic violence.
“Based on our experience to date, we believe that the appropriate procedures are in effect that we can do what we need to do on a case-by-case basis,” Bettman said in an interview with The Canadian Press. “I am extraordinarily proud of our players and how they conduct themselves. If and when something needs to be addressed in terms of discipline, it will be. But more importantly we try to focus, with the Players’ Association, on educating and counselling.”
The 24-year–old Voynov broke into the NHL with the Kings in the 2011-12 season, and has been part of their two Stanley Cup Championship clubs.
Voynov was charged under California Penal Code section 273.5, Domestic Violence. If convicted, the charge carries a maximum sentence of four years in prison, though it is unlikely that any first time offender would come close to getting a maximum sentence.
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