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

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

We will see how much choice they have if/when sponsors threaten to pull out if Voynov continues to play.

They will either face a lawsuit from Voynov for not reinstating him or lose millions of dollars from the sponsors.

False dichotomy. If sponsors canceled contracts because the NHL was legally obligated to reinstate a player who was exonerated by a court of law, I suspect the league would have legal grounds to go after such sponsors. The league is pretty much doing what it reasonably can at this point, but if the DA screws this up, the sponsors will likely understand that the NHL's hands would then be tied.

Hopefully the DA's office has its ducks in a row and we don't see this timeline come to pass.

[Five-hole]

Originally Posted by mrdonkey

Guess I can't fault the defense for doing whatever is necessary to protect their client, but seriously, a misdemeanour? Based on the description of the crime scene it sounds like a minor miracle this isn't a manslaughter investigation.

That's a little overboard.

[GioforPM]

Technically, the league doesn't need a criminal conviction to impose or continue a suspension, so the lawsuit wouldn't be winnable (plus he can't sue anyway - he has to go through the collective bargaining grievance process).

That said, it'd be hard to justify the suspension going on.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Technically, the league doesn't need a criminal conviction to impose or continue a suspension, so the lawsuit wouldn't be winnable (plus he can't sue anyway - he has to go through the collective bargaining grievance process).

That said, it'd be hard to justify the suspension going on.

Agreed, but keeping the suspension going would be hugely problematic. Particularly since Voynov's suspension was "pending investigation into the allegations". That reason evaporates in the case of an acquittal. To try and prolong the suspension anyway would run into the same issues the NFL found with Ray Rice.

Incidentally, the NFLPA have sued the NFL over Adrian Peterson's suspension. One could hardly doubt the NHLPA would be all over the NHL if Voynov got off with either a slap on the wrist, or entirely altogether.

[GioforPM]

The Ray Rice issue was that they gave him one suspension, he served it, and then they tried to suspend him again for the same incident. Stupid, and the NHL acted way better when this one happened.

I'm sure the NHLPA would be on Voynov's side if they try to continue it. As it is, I don't think it's gonna happen anyway. They have police statements, medical evidence and a lame "accident" defence. The photos haven't even been prodiced yet.

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

False dichotomy. If sponsors canceled contracts because the NHL was legally obligated to reinstate a player who was exonerated by a court of law, I suspect the league would have legal grounds to go after such sponsors. The league is pretty much doing what it reasonably can at this point, but if the DA screws this up, the sponsors will likely understand that the NHL's hands would then be tied.

Hopefully the DA's office has its ducks in a row and we don't see this timeline come to pass.

Even if they can't get out of their contracts... they can threaten to not renew.

[driveway]

I can't believe the Kings let Voynov onto the ice at practice. That's absurd, $100,000 is too light a punishment for that action, I wish they'd had to forfeit a draft pick.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by PeteMoss

Even if they can't get out of their contracts... they can threaten to not renew.

Why would they do that? The way the NFL handled the Ray Rice thing was offensive to a lot of people.

It's not a stretch to say the NHL has dealt with this exponentially better than the NFL. They got Voynov away from the team, let the investigation happen, and when he was charged with a felony, they modified his suspension to give the Kings the relief they were allowed under the terms of the CBA.

Nobody major is leaving the NHL over this, and anyone who does would be gambling that the one time uptick in notereity is worth more than a long term partnership with a major pro sports entity.

It ain't happening.

[sureLoss]

Wife's letter to the DA claiming it was an accident:
http://tmz.vo.llnwd.net/o28/newsdesk...voynov_doc.pdf

[CaptainYooh]

Her letter reads as if she was sincerely regretting the whole thing and blowing the family feud badly out of proportion. She probably also realized how bad it is going to turn out for her, personally, from the financial well-being standpoint. If Voinov is convicted, his lawyers are likely going to negotiate a deportation back to Russia, where he's going to divorce her and leave her and her daughter with no subsistence whatsoever, while continuing to play and make good living in KHL.

[Jets4Life]

He's never going to play in the NHL again. I read the police statements. Large amount of blood, Voynov allegedly punched her, choked her out, smashed her face first into a flat screen TV, pushed her to the ground and kicked her repeadedly. She was left with red marks around neck, a laceration under her eye that needed 8 stitches to close. Blood was found all over the house, including bloody handprints.

http://deadspin.com/slava-voynovs-do...sce-1671317956

Never mind the KHL, Voynov is going to do a prison term. Deportation will follow, and we will likely never hear from him again.

[Five-hole]

Originally Posted by CaptainYooh

Her letter reads as if she was sincerely regretting the whole thing and blowing the family feud badly out of proportion. She probably also realized how bad it is going to turn out for her, personally, from the financial well-being standpoint. If Voinov is convicted, his lawyers are likely going to negotiate a deportation back to Russia, where he's going to divorce her and leave her and her daughter with no subsistence whatsoever, while continuing to play and make good living in KHL.

If she's worried about that, she should be filing for divorce pronto. Not sure how it works down there, but in Alberta you can divorce immediately if there's been abuse and I believe you don't need consent. Then she can go after his assets and get something.

[Mattman]

Moral of the story: Don't hit women.

[CaptainYooh]

He's not convicted yet and the trial will go for some time, I presume, and will likely get appealed. Voinov has the resources. As for assets, I doubt he has a lot of meaningful assets parked in US.

[hurtin_albertan]

Originally Posted by Mattman

Moral of the story: Don't hit women.

Don't hit anybody, gender be damned.

[mrdonkey]

Christ almighty, this all went down while their kid was in the next room?

Every day this story finds a way to get even more horrible.

[PugnaciousIntern]

Originally Posted by hurtin_albertan

Don't hit anybody, gender be damned.

Unless you are Big Ern?

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by CaptainYooh

Voinov has the resources. As for assets, I doubt he has a lot of meaningful assets parked in US.

If Voynov was concerned about losing assets in a divorce it would be a surprise at all if much of his assets were hidden away (or will be hidden away) in Russia. His wife won't be getting much if she leaves.

Originally Posted by mrdonkey

Christ almighty, this all went down while their kid was in the next room?

The letter from the wife states that the child's room is on the other side of the house.

[mrdonkey]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

The letter from the wife states that the child's room is on the other side of the house.

Oh, cool. That makes it ok then.

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by mrdonkey

Oh, cool. That makes it ok then.

Just trying to correct your incorrect statement!