The NHL has ruled that former Los Angeles Kings defenseman Slava Voynov is not allowed to come back to league at this time. Since 2015, he’s been playing in the KHL with SKA St. Petersburg. While his contract with the Kings was terminated, the team retained his rights.
NHL source says Slava Voynov has NOT been cleared to return to the NHL.
— John Shannon (@JShannonhl) August 26, 2018
Slava Voynov Still Barred From NHL
Slava Voynov was drafted early in the second round of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft by the Kings. Across a span of 190 games between 2011-2015, he scored 18 goals, 63 assists, for 81 points. While with Los Angeles, the Russian was apart of both their Stanley Cup Championship runs in 2012 and 2014.
Shortly into the following season, on the night of October 19th, 2014, Slava Voynov brutally beat his wife. Following his arrest, the NHL suspended him indefinitely the next day. The disgraced domestic abuser spent almost two months in jail and saw the six-year $25 million contract that he signed in 2013 terminated. He subsequently went back to Russia to play and even represent his country in the Olympics this year.
The specifics of Voynov’s ability to play again in the NHL can be complicated. Due to his contract running through the 2018-19 season, his rights remained with the Kings. However, while playing in Russia, he remained on the voluntary retirement list, much like Mike Fisher, Pavel Datsyuk, Ilya Kovalchuk, and Vadim Shipachyov all have been at one point or another. With the news that courts in California vacated his criminal record on July 2nd, it was expected that Voynov would once again be allowed to play in North America, and that the Kings would trade his rights. Today’s news indicates that the league office sees things differently.
NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly previously stated that Voynov’s return was contingent on completing a process with the league to review his case that would determine the parameters for his eligibility. However, he was cleared to speak to other NHL teams after SKA’s board of directors gave him permission to do so.
What This Means For The Future
It will be controversial if he’s allowed back into the league and a team picks him up. He will be a solid addition to their top four core. The right-handed defender can circle the puck around the offensive zone and tire out defenders. He also knows how to break up lanes and cut short offensive rushes coming his way.
His most obvious asset is his experience with winning teams. Following the two Stanley Cups with the Kings, he won the Gagarin Cup in 2017 with St. Petersburg, and gold in the most recent Olympics with the Olympic Athletes from Russia. Despite being an awful person, he is a solid player that could improve a team’s roster substantially.
The NHL has taken a stand here. Unlike many leagues (and even past NHL decisions), they have put a player’s personal conduct to great scrutiny even though he could be a solid on-ice contributor. Sometimes there are things more important than the game on the ice.
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