Yeah. You read that correctly.
So, uh, Slava Voynov is practicing with the Kings. No, I don’t know why.
— Rich Hammond (@Rich_Hammond) December 2, 2014Not sure what "banned from all team activities" is confusing for Slava Voynov and the #LAKings. #NHL can't be happy with him or team today.
— Elliott Teaford (@ElliottTeaford) December 2, 2014That's right. Slava Voynov, who is currently under NHL suspension for domestic abuse charges was at practice with the Kings. This is of course in DIRECT violation of the terms of the suspension.
.@NHLonNBCSports Yes. They did break the terms. pic.twitter.com/NqiGPCQ4kk
— Jenny (@redwingsdiva87) December 2, 2014That's pretty clear cut.
The Kings said that it was an optional skate, but nonetheless, an optional skate with other teammates is essentially a practice. It's also STILL in violation of the suspension handed out by the NHL.
Understand that the Kings explained the situation to the league #voynov
— lisa dillman (@reallisa) December 2, 2014What. On. Earth?
Why?
How?
Whaaaaaa?
So many questions regarding this and many are looking for an explanation already. One thing for certain is that the NHL is NOT going to be happy with this game of chicken that Dean Lombardi has now engaged in with their offices.
What is the overall purpose of this? To stick it to the NHL? Voynov is in no way going to play for the Kings any time soon so what is the reasoning behind it? The purpose? The Kings already received their cap relief from the league, but that could be in question now if the league feels they directly defied the suspension parameters.
There were a few interesting excerpts from Jon Rosen on his blog today regarding the incident.
Dean Lombardi declined to speak about Voynov’s participation at today’s skate when approached by reporters in the team’s El Segundo practice facility, while another member of the team’s hockey operations tied his participation to the thought that the skate may have been “optional.…
From the accounts I’ve been able to put together, Voynov took the ice early and remained on with injured players before joining fully in what was deemed by the team as an “optional… skate, though all players on the roster were present. The Kings and the NHL have been in contact in regards to this morning’s developments.
More to come as news breaks.
In the early goings though this doesn't really look good on a PR level or on a league level from the Kings, as they are directly violating the NHLs suspension orders and upsetting more than a few fans for taking what is a very serious accusation of domestic violence without a single shred of trepidation. Accident? On purpose?
Update:
And just like that the Kings have been fined $100,000 by the NHL for Voynov's participation.
The team has released a statement that can be found here
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