He was caught with the drugs while still under contract with the Kings

Why not immediately terminate upon knowing like they did with Richards?
- TheGame316

He was gone regardless of the situation. He had no contract for the upcoming season. What would be the purpose of termination? Richards was going to get bought out if he wasn't getting traded. In my opinion he screwed the Kings over because they were probably close to a deal with CGy/EDM and almost got something in return (supposedly) when management was notified of his incident. This situation fell into LAs lap and they're trying to get out of a bad contract with a clause that may or may not be upheld. We'll find out in the coming months though.

I thought players get paid until July 1st, when their contract runs out.
- djamon

I know that they determine pay based on actual games. So when you are traded after game 32, the first team pays 32/82 of the salary while the new team pays 50/82 of the salary. Since the kings season had finished, the Kings were on the hook for what he was owed no matter what. It might be true that the paychecks keep coming in until july 1(although I still don't think that's right) but LA couldn't get out of it.

First, you don't know all the details regarding the Richards' situation. So saying the Kings are just trying to get out of his contract for small issue is ignorant. Wait until the details emerge. And I'm sure, since you're a blogger, you read other blogs or hockey articles. Lombardi was in talks with Edmonton and Calgary regarding Richards at the draft. He sought out both of those GMs to say they should end talks because this incident was going to come out. So give your disliking of the Kings a break until we know more.

Second, Voynov was not convicted. Look up the definition of convicted. He took a plea deal. So tell me. Why would the Kings attempt to eliminate his contract and take a cap hit when he's already been suspended by the league AND the team? His salary doesn't count against the cap now, but if we were to do to him what we did to Richards, there would be a cap penalty. That's not good for business.
- Troy0418

You people kill me. Has Mike Richards even been charged, much less convicted (plea, whatever you want to call it)? You can't have it both ways. When the Kings found out what Voynov did, they should have terminated his contract. For those of you who forgot, here it is:

Voynov's wife, told Redondo Beach police the couple started arguing during a Halloween party and he punched her in the left jaw.

The conflict continued that night in a bedroom at their Redondo Beach home, according to the police report, where Varlamova said Voynov choked her 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.

Voynov kicked Varlamova five to six times while she was on the ground, she told police.

After she rose, Voynov shoved her into the corner of a flat-screen television, the report said. The collision opened a 1.2-inch gash above Varlamova's left eye that required eight stitches to close.

The bedroom was "covered in blood," Varlamova told police.

King fan quiz:

Q: When is it ok to beat the hell out of your wife?
A: Never Bro!

You people kill me. Has Mike Richards even been charged, much less convicted (plea, whatever you want to call it)? You can't have it both ways. When the Kings found out what Voynov did, they should have terminated his contract. For those of you who forgot, here it is:



King fan quiz:

Q: When is it ok to beat the hell out of your wife?
A: Never Bro!
- yzermaneely

For one, you're not as smart as the people who run this league or the people who run the teams. Now that the courts have done their part the league will figure out what to do with that pice of poop Voynov. Two, Dont blame the fans for one mans heinous acts. Your question/answer comment is just plain stupid.

How about this, I'll flip this termination of contract situation on the league, why didn't they terminate his contract? They are well within their rights too but they didn't. Like I said the league will figure out what to do and if they decide to keep Voynov around, then it is what it is I guess. I for one, like many others, hope voynov never plays for LA again

For one, you're not as smart as the people who run this league or the people who run the teams. Now that the courts have done their part the league will figure out what to do with that pice of poop Voynov. Two, Dont blame the fans for one mans heinous acts. Your question/answer comment is just plain stupid.

How about this, I'll flip this termination of contract situation on the league, why didn't they terminate his contract? They are well within their rights too but they didn't, Smart guy. Like I said the league will figure out what to do and if they decide to keep Voynov around, well than I guess you're going to have to find a different sport to watch. I for one, like many others, hope voynov never plays for LA again
- KINGS67

I'm gonna go out on a limb and suggest it was because Voynov still has some use to the Kings, whereas Richards does not.

It's extremely disingenuous of the Kings to play the moral card with Richards and not with Voynov. I'm not sure why this point eludes Kings fans.

I'm gonna go out on a limb and suggest it was because Voynov still has some use to the Kings, whereas Richards does not.

It's extremely disingenuous of the Kings to play the moral card with Richards and not with Voynov. I'm not sure why this point eludes Kings fans.
- djamon

To your first comment that's what 99% of people believe Is the biggest reason why he isn't gone yet.
To your second point, know one knows why the Kings don't terminate Voynovs contract. I honestly don't think they can until the league figures out what to do. I don't know. But Don't blame the fans for putting in their own opinions what they think the situation is why it is. I want the contract terminated. Richards was gone regardless. It was a way to get out from under a bad contract. That's no secret to anyone.
It really is dumb how one not so bad situation got terminated and the other, who committed a heinous act, is not

Last I checked, in the real world when you don't do your job, you don't get paid anymore. What message does it send to the younger players on the team? Very proud of my team for the choices they have made so far regarding MR. The only mistake DL has made so far was giving Richards a second chance.

To your first comment that's what 99% of people believe Is the biggest reason why he isn't gone yet.
To your second point, know one knows why the Kings don't terminate Voynovs contract. I honestly don't think they can until the league figures out what to do. I don't know. But Don't blame the fans for putting in their own opinions what they think the situation is why it is. I want the contract terminated. Richards was gone regardless. It was a way to get out from under a bad contract. That's no secret to anyone.
It really is dumb how one not so bad situation got terminated and the other, who committed a heinous act, is not
- KINGS67

They didn't even wait for Richards to be charged to terminate him. Voynov was charged, has plead guilty and been sentenced and still the Kings wait on the NHL to act. It's 100% because of the contracts and relative abilities of the players that has caused this contradiction. There's no need to wait on the NHL here, I would think when you admit to beating the poop out of your wife you've breached the conduct code in your contract.

If this were my team I would be embarrassed (and my embarrassment threshold is obviously very high), TBH. With this treatment of Richards good luck getting players to sign long term deals.

Last I checked, in the real world when you don't do your job, you don't get paid anymore. What message does it send to the younger players on the team? Very proud of my team for the choices they have made so far regarding MR. The only mistake DL has made so far was giving Richards a second chance.
- Deadmau55

I bet Richards wishes he hadn't got the 2nd chance...he'd be a lot richer than he is.

No he did not. He said he only skated a few times. He never said he didn't exercise.

And if he's so out of shape, why did he get such great fitness results? Why has he been able to be PPG with a medicore second line centre. Why has he missed 0 games the past 6 yeArs.

All you're doing is regurgitating the Tornto media garbage.
- RogerRoeper

Silly!!
I don't have to read what the Toronto Media writes to know that Kessel is out of shape. I just have to watch him on the ice and when he gets off the ice.
The guy is out of shape!! He is sucking gas every time he leaves the ice. He never extends his shift (because he has nothing in the tank). A big reason he doesn't play any defense is because he conserves his energy for offense only - he just doesn't have the stamina to do both effectively. He is pudgy and you can see it clearly in his face.

As for your PPG...just stop. Only once in his career has he ever had a PPG season and in 668 career games, he has 520pts. Not sure why Leaf fans keep boasting Kessel as a PPG player when he is not!
TBH, if the guy was in shape, he may actually be a PPG player!

No one is doubting the talent that Kessel has, the guy is an elite offensive player. It's too bad he doesn't actually take care of himself and build stamina - he could have been an elite hockey player rather then just scorer.

For one, you're not as smart as the people who run this league or the people who run the teams. Now that the courts have done their part the league will figure out what to do with that pice of poop Voynov. Two, Dont blame the fans for one mans heinous acts. Your question/answer comment is just plain stupid.

How about this, I'll flip this termination of contract situation on the league, why didn't they terminate his contract? They are well within their rights too but they didn't. Like I said the league will figure out what to do and if they decide to keep Voynov around, then it is what it is I guess. I for one, like many others, hope voynov never plays hockey again
- KINGS67

Fixed.

He plead no contest which is way different legally
- QuicksEnnormous

If you plead no contest to a criminal charge,you will have a conviction on your record, just as though you had pleaded guilty or been convicted after a trial. The advantage of a no-contest plea compared to a guilty plea is that a no-contest plea generally cannot be offered into evidence in a civil case.

I did say the same thing last year. And now they added McDavid. It's crazy to say this, but I think people are so sick of hearing how good the Oilers will eventually be that the impact of McDavid is actually being underrated.
- James_Tanner

I still don't think the Oilers are going to be contenders, or even a playoff team anytime soon. Its not because they "haven't proven anything yet." Every offseason we discuss whether or not a team has improved on paper and what it means for them when the season starts, especially after the draft and free agency period. The Oilers finishing near the bottom of the Pacific has more to do with their competition. There are 5 teams in the Pacific that still look better than Edmonton on paper. At least two of those teams, on paper, look better when you compare the players not currently in the NHL (mostly because the majority of Edmonton's top prospects are in the NHL). How far into the future are you looking when you believe the Oilers are going to push Anaheim, Calgary, LA and San Jose out of the way? The cores of most of those teams (not the Sharks) will still be around 5 or more years from now.

So mentally conflicted with our biases that we can't even make basic intuitive judgement without looking like total homers?

More of the same...

Say what you want about Phil Kessel but his production on a horrible team is out of this world.

Since joining the Leafs only Alex Ovechkin (206), Steven Stamkos (207), and Corey Perry have scored more goals than Phil Kessel's 151.

Say what you want about Phil Kessel but his production on a horrible team is out of this world.

Since joining the Leafs only Alex Ovechkin (206), Steven Stamkos (207), and Corey Perry have scored more goals than Phil Kessel's 151.
- 13LEAFS01

It is true, and he is an elite goal scorer....but he is far from being an elite hockey player. If there ever were a definition of a "one dimensional" hockey player, it is Phil Kessel. He does next to nothing else on the ice aside from producing offense (he is actually a very good playmaker too).

It is true, and he is an elite goal scorer....but he is far from being an elite hockey player. If there ever were a definition of a "one dimensional" hockey player, it is Phil Kessel. He does next to nothing else on the ice aside from producing offense (he is actually a very good playmaker too).
- Cooshie

You know what's annoying though? The difference between Kane and Kessel is virtually non-existant. If Kessel got protected minutes on a top team (soon to happen) then he'd have a totally different rep.

Kane doesn't play d, isn't a leader, and didn't he once beat up a cabbie ? So pretty easily can be qualified as a bad character/ idiot. But he has three cups playing the role of one dimensional sniper on on a well balanced team. He also makes 2.5 more than Kessel and no one has called him overpaid, even though essentially they're the same player.

You know what's annoying though? The difference between Kane and Kessel is virtually non-existant. If Kessel got protected minutes on a top team (soon to happen) then he'd have a totally different rep.

Kane doesn't play d, isn't a leader, and didn't he once beat up a cabbie ? So pretty easily can be qualified as a bad character/ idiot. But he has three cups playing the role of one dimensional sniper on on a well balanced team. He also makes 2.5 more than Kessel and no one has called him overpaid, even though essentially they're the same player.
- James_Tanner

Hey, I am not disagreeing with you at all.
Kessel can go to a team where he isn't the focal point and has teammates around him to support his shortcomings and he can really shine - much like Kane does in Chicago.
I wish him the best as he was one of the very few players Leaf fans could really cheer on over the last 5-6 yrs.

That also doesn't make much sense unless Kessel is the greatest talent in the history of hockey. You don't play in every game in every season and put up points like he has without caring.
- Hunkulese

I agree. If the reports are true that Kessel doesn't care/ doesn't try, then WTF would be like if he did try? Best offensive player in history? The guy puts up top numbers on a regular basis (ignoring last year on one of the biggest dumpster fires in history). If he's doing that without trying, then I want to see him try so badly.

JT I agree with a lot of what you posted, and the point about needles reminded me of a discussion I had regarding painkillers vs performance enhancers: If you need an injection of something to perform at a certain level, is that not enhancing your performance? The debate got difficult when the stories/legends are told of guys playing on one leg in the playoffs and the "heroics" of it all would be gone. Personally I would like to see less painkillers and more time for rest/recovery/healing but thats just me

The Avs weren't a good team the year before, they were a team that got lucky, went against the odds of probability and had success despite being brutally out-possessed. They weren't good.

This isn't meant as a shot against the Avs who I have nothing personally against, but 100% they are becoming known for making terrible decisions.

Also, I don't think plus minus means anything.

ROR is worth every penny.
- James_Tanner

"[t]hey are becoming known for terrible decisions."

Really?

You have three other players needing contract extensions next year, namely MacKinnon, Johnson and Barrie. They're core players. Yet, you think the Avs management should've paid ROR 8M/8 years while handcuffing the team's ability to extend them and all the while doing nothing to: 1) bolster the D and in particular, pick up a true #2 LH; 2) balance the roster; 3) restock the farm club; 4) gain depth; and 5) get bigger. In order to fairly judge the deal, you have to examine the larger picture. What were the team's pressing needs and how did their acquisitions fit into their overall anticipated personnel line-up within the next few years? In answering this question, you must also account for the Avs subsequent trade with the Sharks (the Avs got their pick with their OS back) and the FA signings of Beauchemin and Comeau with their cap hits and terms.

In my view, keeping ROR would have been unaffordable and it was irrefutably the correct decision to trade him. You should take note that I was one of the Avs fans that wanted to keep ROR. I would have given ROR a 6.75M/6 year contract. But going beyond that $ amount for that term was unworkable.

Have the Avs addressed their needs? Absolutely as to each point mentioned above.

I will concede Sakic and Roy have learned from losing Statsny. But I can't think of any other "terrible decisions" the two of them have made.

It is true that the Avs puck possession stunk, in fact long before Sakic and Roy took the reins. But what was that a function of? Well, a huge part of that was always due to a lousy D. How were the Avs going to address that and extend their other core players if they paid ROR 8M/8 years or even 7.5M? The answer is they couldn't. But now they have solidified their top 4 D (Beauchemin and Zadorov) and set up a clear line of D-man development and succession (Bigras, Geertsen, Meloche and Mironov).

I'll also concede the Avs got most of the breaks going their way in 2013-2014 when they won the Central Division. A fluke? No, not really. They were a terrifically talented team with an elite goalie that played to their ability over an 82 game schedule. That Mr. Tanner, is not luck.

I don't have a problem with ROR's salary demand. ROR is a consummate professional athlete and he should not be blamed for trying to maximize his compensation. But, be fair. This was a good deal for the Avs. You should also note that ROR ended last season looking like he did the year before. That is to say, ROR looked terrific. But ROR's play was unimpressive earlier in the season.

I liked McGinn but he was out most of last year due to back surgery. So I don't see trading McGinn to the Sabres as losing the deal for the Avs.

Frankly, you strike me as someone that is good in citing statistics. But I don't get the sense that you are truly knowledgeable about the Avs and their overall needs or to be able to see what their plans for the organization's future are.

Last I checked, in the real world when you don't do your job, you don't get paid anymore. What message does it send to the younger players on the team? Very proud of my team for the choices they have made so far regarding MR. The only mistake DL has made so far was giving Richards a second chance.
- Deadmau55

That trade was Stewart ADN Shattenkirk for EJ.
- Snowblind

Let me see. Stewart is an unsigned UFA that went from the Blues to the Sabres to the Wild to . . . And the Blues were trying to trade Shattenkirk. While Roy has elevated Johnson's play to make him an NHL All-Star.

This was a bad trade. The Avs traded for EJ's ceiling, not his current production.
- djamon

So trading for players that have not reached their ceiling is a bad trade? Why? So only trades for players that are playing at their ceiling are good trades? LOL!

The Blues coaching wasn't able to elevate Johnson's play to his ceiling. Neither was Sacco. BTW, the Avs' former GM, Greg Sherman, made that trade. However Roy has been making very good progress in that regard. But if you believe Mr. Tanner, the Avs' (Sakic's) hiring of Roy was a bad decision.

I'm not saying they should have necessarily been criticized for the trade, but it was a bad one nonetheless. The Avs are just lucky Stewart didn't turn out the way many thought he would.
- djamon

You are not giving credit to the Avs for knowing what they had with Stewart. And no, it wasn't a bad trade for the Avs. Not sure what your reasoning was.