They (LA) must be fairly confident that they won't be taking much if any cap penalty from the Richards situation, and/or that Voynov won't be playing for them to start the year.
If Lindolm beat his gf I would not want him on the Ducks. I would not buy any tix to see the ducks play until he'd be off the team. I don't see how any kings fans justify Voynov or would want him back. It's more than just a business or a sport.
Voynov didn't serve a suspension. Not an official one, as a form of punishment. You don't get paid for suspensions.
I'm on the side that first you show you've rehabilitated, then you get to play in the NHL again.Disclaimer: I'm not excusing him of anything. He's an idiot. So is Michael Vick. But they did their time for the crime and deserve a chance to see if they're rehabilitated.
Let's not get too crazy now...he didn't kill or rape anyone.
He did his time in jail and suspension.
I really don't have a problem with the Kings bringing Voynov back. I have a problem with the Richards situation because it makes no sense. How a team can void a contract because a player had oxy on him and crossed the boarder is mind boggling, which is why I expect the PA to win the fight easily
What he did was wrong and he might very well be a bad person, but you can't say he should never be given a 2nd chance in the league because of that. Maybe the guy learned his lesson (hopefully). If not he will be on a very short leash and if he repeat offends I expect him to be thrown out of the league and possibly deported
Disclaimer: I'm not excusing him of anything. He's an idiot. So is Michael Vick. But they did their time for the crime and deserve a chance to see if they're rehabilitated.
Depends what Ehrhoff they're getting really, and if last season was just a blip or start of a decline. Ehrhoff of last season won't be very useful, but if he can bounce back to how he played in Buffalo (or somewhat close to it) then it could really pay off.
This feels similar to the Heatley deal to me, hoping that an aging player who put together some solid seasons later in their career can bounce back to that level or similar after a career worst year.
Hopefully it has the same result for them as it had for us
I'm on the side that first you show you've rehabilitated, then you get to play in the NHL again.
Voynov didn't serve a suspension. Not an official one, as a form of punishment. You don't get paid for suspensions.
That's the NHL's fault, not his IMO.
I'd have no problem with the league giving him a legit suspension now that he's been found guilty.
Hell, he shouldn't have been getting paid while all this was going on last year. The evidence against him should have been enough to suspend him w/o pay for the remainder of the year. I know, I know, innocent until proven guilty...but still
I don't think you understand how the punishment system works. Being accused of a crime isn't justification for a non-paid suspension. Now, being found guilty? That is. Had the NHL suspended him without pay, the NHLPA would have filed a grievance, and they would have been justified to do so.
That isn't the fault of the NHL. They are simply following the rules. If they decide a punishment is forthcoming, it will be completely separate to the paid suspension last season. You're assuming they dropped the ball, when the opposite is true. They did exactly what they should have. There is no "but still" here. The NHL had no cause for an unpaid suspension.
Edit: I'm sure there is some provision in the CBA that allows the NHL to do what is in their best interest, but that's a slippery slope, and it simply makes more sense to take the proper steps. They saved themselves a lot of potential hassle by handling it this way, and even that took some balls, because even with a paid suspension there may have been issues if Voynov had been found not guilty.
So then suspend him for half of this season without pay. Whatever. It doesn't even matter. He followed the punishment the league saw fit and served his jail time. This idea that he should be unable to re-enter the league for years and years without being given a 2nd chance is a bit harsh. We don't know the full details so I won't get into it too far but **** happens. You should never snap like he did but hopefully he learned that. Some people want to treat this like rape or murder which is taking it too far. If a guy gets a DUI, he's not going to be thrown out of the league (even though he's putting other lives at risk).
If Bettman throws VOynov out of the league he'd be setting the precedence for many future players being kicked out. I don't think he's comfortable with that unless it's much more serious than this incident (not that domestic violence is not serious).
Anyway, I hate "defending" this piece of trash so this is going to be my last comment.
I'll end it with: **** the Kings
Marta Varlamova, Voynov’s wife, told police the couple started arguing during a Halloween party. Voynov removed her costume glasses and stomped on them, then, outside the venue, he punched her in the left jaw, according to the report.
When asked by police what the argument was about, Varlamova “stated that she could not remember,†the report said.
The dispute continued in the bedroom of the couple’s Redondo Beach home, Varlamova told police. Voynov, she said, choked her with both hands three times.
“Voynov pushed her to the ground approximately six to seven times with both hands, telling her that he wanted a divorce and to ‘Get out,’ “ the report said.
Varlamova told police that Voynov then kicked her five to six times while on the ground. She said she screamed for him to stop.
When she rose, the report said, Voynov pushed her into the corner of a flat-screen television mounted on the wall, opening a gash above Varlamova’s left eye. Varlamova said the couple’s bedroom was “covered in her blood.â€
Guy beats stranger.
Guy beats friend (guy).
Guy beats friend (girl, not romantically involved).
Guy beats girlfriend.
Guy beats live-in girlfriend.
Guy beats wife.
Guy beats gay husband.
Are these punished differently?
I don't know what I think he deserves, but I know that I'm sure that a month or two of a stay in a minimum security luxury pay to stay prison sure as hell hasn't left him "rehabilitated".
I can almost guarantee that you will serve less time if you beat up your [straight male] neighbor than if you beat up your girlfriend or [gay male] neighbor.
It also depends on how severe the damage is. If you put your male neighbor into a coma you'll probably see more time than if you broke your wife's nose.