Photo : Nam Y. Huh ( AP ) Former Kings defenseman Slava Voynov has not played in the NHL since October 2014, when he punched, kicked, and choked his wife, and pushed her head into a TV screen. Voynov pleaded no contest to a charge of spousal abuse, served 90 days in jail, was suspended indefinitely, and had his Kings contract terminated. Rather than face potential deportation proceedings, he moved back to his native Russia, where he won a Gagarin Cup in the KHL and a gold medal at the 2018 Olympics. Advertisement Voynov’s conviction was dismissed last summer after he completed his three years of probation, and now he’s considering returning to the NHL. He’s going to have to wait a while longer for that. Today, the NHL announced that Voynov will be suspended for all of next season . The league’s statement : The National Hockey League announced today that defensem an Slava Voynov has been suspended f or the entire 2019-20 NHL season (including Playoffs) for unacceptable off-ice conduct. Voynov’s eligibility to play in the NHL will be restored (assuming good behavior) no later than July 1, 2020. NHL Commission er Gary Bettman le vied the suspension under Rule 18-A of the NHL/NHLPA Collective Bargaining Agreement. The Commissioner’s ruling came following an investigation by the League and an in-person hearing in New York on Thursday, March 21. The investigation and hearing were conducted, pursuant to the terms of the CBA, to determine the relevant facts and circumstances relating to an Oct. 19, 2014, incident involving Voynov and his wife. The incident ultimately resulted in Voynov pleading no contest to a misdemeanor violation of § 273.5(a) of the California Penal Code on July 2, 2015. Mr. Voynov originally was suspended indefinitely by the NHL following his arrest on Oct. 20, 2014. “I have determined that Player Slava Voynov engaged in acts of domestic violence directed at his wife,” Commissioner Bettman said. “Today’s ruling, while tailored to the specific facts of this case and the individuals involved, is necessary and consistent with the NHL’s strongly-held policy that it cannot and will not tolerate this and similar types of conduct, particularly as directed at a spouse, domestic partner or family member.” Voynov will be 30 years old when he’s eligible to play, and will be a free agent. If anyone wants to sign him.<doc-sep>The NHL suspended defenseman Slava Voynov on Tuesday for the 2019-20 season and 2020 playoffs after determining he committed acts of domestic violence. Commissioner Gary Bettman suspended Voynov for what the league called unacceptable off-ice conduct. The 29-year-old Russian could have his eligibility restored on July 1, 2020, based on good behavior. Voynov was suspended indefinitely in October 2014 after being arrested and accused of domestic abuse of his wife. He pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor, left the United States to go back to Russia and in July had the conviction dismissed by a judge in Los Angeles. After playing three seasons in Russia's Kontinental Hockey League and winning a gold medal at the 2018 Olympics without NHL players, Voynov moved back to the U.S. and was applying to be reinstated by the NHL. Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly in August said Voynov's return would be contingent on completing a process with the league to review his case. The NHL did an investigation and held a hearing March 21 under the terms of the collective-bargaining agreement regarding the Oct. 19, 2014, incident involving Voynov and his wife. Bettman said he determined after that investigation and hearing that Voynov engaged in acts of domestic violence. "Today's ruling, while tailored to the specific facts of this case and the individuals involved, is necessary and consistent with the NHL's strongly-held policy that it cannot and will not tolerate this and similar types of conduct, particularly as directed at a spouse, domestic partner or family member," Bettman said. The NHL does not have a defined domestic violence policy like other North American professional sports leagues and says it takes each incident on a case-by-case basis. Major League Baseball has also taken a strong stance on domestic violence. Last year, San Diego pitcher Jose Torres was suspended 100 games and Toronto pitcher Roberto Osuna 75 games. Osuna was later traded from the Blue Jays to Houston. The National Football League has suspended Cleveland Browns running back Kareem Hunt for the first eight games of the 2019 season due to violations of the personal conduct policy. Hunt was released last season by the Kansas City Chiefs after a video showed him kicking a woman. Another video came out later showing him in a fight at a resort. The Los Angeles Kings, who terminated Voynov's $25 million contract in 2015, said they are reviewing the NHL's decision and added, "It is premature for us to comment until we understand what today's decision, which can be appealed, means in its entirety." Though he is not under contract, the Kings have rights to Voynov associated with his status on the voluntary retired list. A spokesman said the NHL Players' Association is reviewing the decision. Voynov's agent, Rolland Hedges, did not immediately return a voicemail and text message seeking comment Tuesday. Voynov has the right to appeal to a neutral arbitrator. If an appeal occurs, that arbitrator would have to be mutually agreed upon by the NHL and NHLPA. Nashville forward Austin Watson was suspended 27 games in September for unacceptable off-ice conduct following an investigation and hearing after he pleaded no contest in July to a charge of domestic assault stemming from an incident in June. Arbitrator Shyam Das reduced the suspension to 18 games on appeal. Voynov last played an NHL game on Oct. 19, 2014. He has 190 regular-season and 64 playoff games of experience, all with the Kings, and won the Stanley Cup with them in 2012 and 2014.<doc-sep>Mike Carlson/Getty Images Tampa Bay Lightning star Nikita Kucherov has been suspended for Sunday's Game 3 against the Columbus Blue Jackets following his boarding penalty Saturday. With Tampa Bay trailing 5-1 with less than five minutes to play, the referees signaled for a delayed tripping penalty against Kucherov. However, he then received a five-minute boarding major and a 10-minute game misconduct for his hit on Blue Jackets defenseman Markus Nutivaara, who was in the process of trying to return to his feet. Tampa Bay's Victor Hedman and Columbus' Josh Anderson each also received game misconducts as a skirmish broke out following the dirty hit. TSN's Pierre LeBrun reported Kucherov had a phone hearing Saturday morning. While the league acknowledged the hit was "not excessively violent or forceful," there were a number of factors that led to a suspension: Kucherov was "in control of this play at all times" Nutivaara had not fallen to the ice unexpectedly, giving Kucherov time to react Kucherov took "advantage" of the situation and placed a "dangerous" hit on a "defenseless" player The league ruled the hit falls under the category of "message sending" Video Play Button Videos you might like As a result, Tampa Bay will be without one of its best players while it attempts to climb out of a 2-0 hole as the series shifts to Columbus. Kucherov led the NHL in scoring during the regular season with 128 points (41 goals and a league-leading 87 assists). The 2019 Art Ross Trophy winner was one of 11 players with 41-plus goals, and he had 12 more assists than anyone. His 87 assists gave him as many or more points than 15 other players. His playmaking abilities helped the Lightning (128 points) run away with the Presidents' Trophy and tie the record for most wins (62) in a single season. As prolific as he was during the regular season, though, the 25-year-old was held in check for the first two games of the series against the Blue Jackets, as he didn't register a point. Knowing a suspension could be imminent, Tampa Bay practiced without Kucherov on Saturday, according to NHL.com's Dan Rosen: Since they seized a 3-0 lead in the first period of Game 1 on Wednesday, the Lightning have been outscored by the Blue Jackets 9-1 over the last five periods. And now, they will have to try to get their offense back on track without their star forward.<doc-sep>
The NHL has suspended defenseman Slava Voynov for the 2019-20 season as well as the 2020 playoffs for "unacceptable off-ice conduct." Voynov, then with the Los Angeles Kings, was suspended indefinitely by the NHL following an arrest on Oct. 20, 2014. He was eventually convicted of misdemeanor domestic abuse and was sentenced to 90 days in jail. In July, Voynov's conviction was dismissed by a judge in Los Angeles County, paving the way for his return to the NHL. The NHL is the only one of the four major North American sports leagues without a specific domestic violence policy. Every incident is treated on a case-by-case basis and is determined by commissioner Gary Bettman. The NHL Players Association says it is reviewing the NHL's decision on Voynov. The NHLPA has the option to appeal to an independent arbitrator. Bettman's decision came after an investigation by the NHL and an in-person hearing with Voynov in New York on March 21. "Today's ruling, while tailored to the specific facts of this case and the individuals involved, is necessary and consistent with the NHL's strongly held policy that it cannot and will not tolerate this and similar types of conduct, particularly as directed at a spouse, domestic partner or family member," Bettman said in a statement issued Tuesday. The Kings terminated Voynov's six-year, $25 million contract after the arrest and placed him on their voluntary retirement list. Voynov has not played in the NHL since and instead has played three seasons with St. Petersburg in the KHL. Voynov also competed for Russia in the 2018 Olympics. Contingent on "good behavior," he will again be eligible to sign a contract with an NHL team starting on July 1, 2020.