[News] NHL suspends Voynov indefinitely after domestic violence arrest. Upd: Voynov charged

[sureLoss]

http://www.tmz.com/2014/10/20/nhl-st...stic-violence/

The woman who was allegedly attacked by L.A. Kings star Slava Voynov was injured so badly, she was rushed to the hospital ... where staffers called the cops on Voynov ... TMZ Sports has learned.

Law enforcement tells us ... Voynov was actually arrested at the hospital in Torrance, CA around 1 AM Monday morning on suspicion of domestic violence.

We're told Voynov had accompanied the woman to the hospital -- and shortly after they arrived, hospital staffers called authorities to report Voynov as the person suspected of attacking the woman.

Our sources tell us the woman claims she was in a relationship with Voynov.

Voynov was hauled to a nearby jail -- where he was eventually released on $50k bail.

Read more: http://www.tmz.com/2014/10/20/nhl-st...#ixzz3GhmGq5FG

[Itse]

Originally Posted by driveway

I have no problems at all with the league immediately suspending players - with pay - who get arrested on violent crime charges.

Send them home, wait to get the facts in hand, then decide if there should be further punitive action taken or not.

Considering how time consuming legal stuff always is, I would imagine it could actually be better for the players to just focus on their private life.

[The Fonz]

That sounds terrible... if it's true, I hope Voynov is suspended for the rest of the season+.

[the_only_turek_fan]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

http://www.tmz.com/2014/10/20/nhl-st...stic-violence/

If the Kings chose to terminate the contract with Voynov, would they have to buy out the rest of the contract?

[skudr248]

Let's all just wait till the facts come out...

[justafan]

I agree should wait for all the "facts." Facts we know are he brought a badly beaten woman to the hospital where he was arrested for beating her.

[flambers]

Originally Posted by justafan

I agree should wait for all the "facts." Facts we know are he brought a badly beaten woman to the hospital where he was arrested for beating her.

We also know, the NHL has suspended the player .

[sureLoss]

Statement from the police:
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/b...do-police.html

"Last night, at around 11:25 p.m., the Redondo Beach Police Department received a call on our business line -- not our 911 line -- from a resident in the 800 block of Avenue C, concerning a woman screaming and heard crying. An exact address of where this incident was occurring was not provided, however officers did respond to the area and were unable to make contact with anybody. Later information was received that the woman who had been crying had possibly left in a vehicle prior to the arrival of the responding police officers.

"A short time after that, at around 1 a.m. this morning, the Redondo Beach Police Department received a call from the Torrance Police Department concerning an adult female that was at Little Company of Mary hospital with an injury that was possibly in need of law enforcement. The injury possibly being the result of a crime was what prompted a law-enforcement response, and that possibly the crime had been committed in the city of Redondo Beach.

"Redondo Beach police officers responded to the hospital and made made contact with the victim at the hospital and determined that a crime of domestic violence did, in fact, occur in the city of Redondo Beach. The suspect in this crime was also present at the hospital and was taken into custody at the hospital and transported to the Redondo Beach Police Department. The suspect was booked on a charge of 273.5 of the California Penal Code and was held on $50,000 bail. He subsequently bailed out around 9 a.m.’’

[Singularity]

Originally Posted by rubecube

Obviously this has more to do with Ray Rice and whatnot, but it still absolutely shocks me that nothing was done with Varlamov last year.

Why? She dropped the charges, wouldn't it be silly if he was suspended over blackmail?

[Arya Stark]

Originally Posted by Singularity

Why? She dropped the charges, wouldn't it be silly if he was suspended over blackmail?

I really don't think she dropped the charges. The cops figured she was a fraud and there was no case.

[sureLoss]

Chris Johnston looks at how Voynov's suspension leaves the Kings in a tough spot:
http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/v...-in-cap-limbo/

A key aspect of the suspension is that Voynov will continue to be paid during the NHL investigation, which leaves the impression he’s being presumed innocent while the league collects more facts.

However, it also keeps his $4.167-million annual salary cap hit on the Kings books.

Right now that is probably the least of the team’s worries, but concern will grow quickly if Voynov stays in cap limbo for long. Los Angeles is currently operating within $500,000 of the upper limit and will be severely hamstrung when it comes to roster juggling without one of its top defencemen.

At least one source believes that Voynov’s suspension could be changed to an unpaid one if the NHL’s investigation uncovers any wrongdoing. That would allow the Kings to claim a contract violation stemming from an off-ice incident, just as the Minnesota Wild did when goaltender Josh Harding injured himself by kicking a wall in frustration before training camp.

However, what if that happened and no guilt was ever proven beyond a reasonable doubt in court? Would Voynov be owed the backpay? Would the Kings be in violation of the cap (assuming they used the space such a move would free up)?

The potential issues are everywhere you look, which is why pro sports leagues used to proceed with caution. But we’ve entered a new era. Not only one of heightened sensitivity, but also one with hard salary caps and complex rules.

[Tinordi]

Originally Posted by skudr248

Let's all just wait till the facts come out...

Should Darryl Sutter wait for the "facts" too?

Kings coach Darryl Sutter talks about Slava Voynov's arrest/suspension: "Absolutely. It’s very appropriate.’’ http://bit.ly/126JGTC

[neo45]

Originally Posted by Tinordi

Should Darryl Sutter wait for the "facts" too?

Kings coach Darryl Sutter talks about Slava Voynov's arrest/suspension: "Absolutely. It’s very appropriate.’’ http://bit.ly/126JGTC

Darryl was probably stoked that he doesn't have to have a Russian in the line up anymore

[sureLoss]

Voynov's lawyer says the language barrier has lead to a misunderstanding and he doubts his client will get charged:

http://www.thehockeynews.com/blog/br...no-crime-here/

The lawyer for Los Angeles Kings defenseman Slava Voynov said he interviewed the victim of Voynov’s alleged domestic abuse incident for more than an hour Tuesday and, “it’s clear to me there was no crime here,” and doubts his client will even be charged with an offense.

Craig Renetzky, a criminal lawyer who is representing Voynov in the matter, said the language barrier, both on the part of Voynov and the alleged victim, has created a misunderstanding and that the victim’s injuries that caused her to be hospitalized were the result of an accident. Voynov was arrested early Monday morning at a Los Angeles area hospital after staff at the hospital notified police of a possible domestic abuse case. Voynov was immediately suspended indefinitely by the NHL, but has yet to be charged with anything pending a police investigation.

“Hopefully, the police will get that,” Renetzky said. “And we’re hoping the NHL looks at the new evidence and will lift the suspension. What the police will find out when they talk to her is that the action was not related to Mr. Voynov. I can’t go into complete details, but Mr. Voynov never hit the woman. This is really just a pure accident and we’re going to provide them with some additional evidence we hope they’ll present to the District Attorney’s office. And if they do, based on my experience, they don’t have a case.

“I think if the authorities act properly and do a complete investigation, they will have to find that charges are not warranted.”

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by Tinordi

Should Darryl Sutter wait for the "facts" too?

Kings coach Darryl Sutter talks about Slava Voynov's arrest/suspension: "Absolutely. It’s very appropriate.’’ http://bit.ly/126JGTC

I believe when a reporter showed up at Voynov's door, he saw Darryl was there... Darryl is a big time family guy. Voynov's time to is done in LA for sure...... side jokes aside, Colorado is the perfect fit for Voynov as they need DMan.

[Coach]

The only thing I see being an issue with the NHL's strong stance is the potential for, after a case being dropped or proven innocent, that the player goes back at the alledged victim for lost wages, which could be substantial. That could deter people in similar and real situations from coming forward.

Who can Voynov go after for that? Will the league reimburse all lost wages upon verdict? Do they go after the police? Were charges actually laid, and by who? Are the police allowed to press charges? I'm not sure about the legal side of these things.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by MattyC

The only thing I see being an issue with the NHL's strong stance is the potential for, after a case being dropped or proven innocent, that the player goes back at the alledged victim for lost wages, which could be substantial. That could deter people in similar and real situations from coming forward.

Who can Voynov go after for that? Will the league reimburse all lost wages upon verdict? Do they go after the police? Were charges actually laid, and by who? Are the police allowed to press charges? I'm not sure about the legal side of these things.

He was suspended with pay, so no lost wages. Charges were filed as he was arrested and got out in $50,000 bail.

[Tinordi]

Does anyone else find the discussion of Voynov's new team and how other teams should acquire him unseemly considering he just beat up a woman and hospitalized her?

Can we at least acknowledge the gravity of the situation before ignoring it?

[devo22]

Originally Posted by Tinordi

Does anyone else find the discussion of Voynov's new team and how other teams should acquire him unseemly considering he just beat up a woman and hospitalized her?

Can we at least acknowledge the gravity of the situation before ignoring it?

innocent until proven guilty eh?

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

He was suspended with pay, so no lost wages. Charges were filed as he was arrested and got out in $50,000 bail.

Actually according to his lawyer the district/state attorney has yet to file charges.

I believe the Police and prosecutors are meeting later this week to decide whether to proceed with charges