Doesn’t matter. Ovechkin is allowed to have his own opinion…. And others are allowed to dislike him for it.

However neither side is illegal.
- Dozzer

Who said anything about illegal?
Doesn't have to be illegal.

Logan Mailloux was suspended 6 months by the OHL, people were outraged because he was actually drafted by the Habs, couldn't report to camp and to this day people are still shoving the story of him sending pictures of sexual nature to his teammates without the girl's consent.

He'll get this shoved in his face for a long time still, for something that, if it happened in Canada, we wouldn't even know about it because he was a minor at the time. He has faced everything the law in europe has given him (which was a fine).

But everyone should be fine with Ovechkin supporting Putin, helping finance him and make him popular, participate in official government fund raisers and still respect his choice of being best buds with someone responsible for thousands of deaths?

So yeah, without diminishing what Mailloux did, what the actual (frank)?
- Scabeh

This

Let's put it a different way:

If the captain of an NHL team actively supported the leader of the KKK, would the league turn a blind eye?

Would the league pump out promotional news releases for him?
- Atomic Wedgie

The league has rules against racism and that’s the primary difference.

Unless the league creates a rule that the NHLPA is willing to accept then Ovie is doing nothing more than just being an bumhole.

(To be clear I do completely agree with you Wedgie when it comes to what I think of the guy)

What law has he broke Wedgie?

Not one is the answer btw.

And I agree with people being allowed to openly judge him however that doesn’t give the league the right to suspend him either.

An opinion is not punishable in North America. You could openly support murder for instance but as long as you don’t kill someone or help plan to you’ve technically not done anything illegal.
- Dozzer

Then please explain how Roman Abramovich has lost control of Chelsea.

Or closer to home:

Quick facts
Since Russia’s illegal occupation and attempted annexation of Crimea in 2014, Canada has sanctioned over 900 individuals and entities, with many of these sanctions undertaken in coordination with our allies and partners. Canada’s sanctions will impose asset freezes and dealings prohibitions on listed persons.

Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, Canada has sanctioned nearly 500 individuals and entities from Russia, Ukraine and Belarus.

https://www.canada.ca/en/...-invasion-of-ukraine.html

Exactly.

So there are no rules in place that he’s breaking. So he’s technically doing nothing punishable.
- Dozzer

You’re right. Supporting war criminals is not specifically covered in the CBA

Logan Mailloux was suspended 6 months by the OHL, people were outraged because he was actually drafted by the Habs, couldn't report to camp and to this day people are still shoving the story of him sending pictures of sexual nature to his teammates without the girl's consent.

He'll get this shoved in his face for a long time still, for something that, if it happened in Canada, we wouldn't even know about it because he was a minor at the time. He has faced everything the law in europe has given him (which was a fine).

But everyone should be fine with Ovechkin supporting Putin, helping finance him and make him popular, participate in official government fund raisers and still respect his choice of being best buds with someone responsible for thousands of deaths?

So yeah, without diminishing what Mailloux did, what the actual (frank)?
- Scabeh

Most of the outrage was directed at Bergevin

Logan Mailloux was suspended 6 months by the OHL, people were outraged because he was actually drafted by the Habs, couldn't report to camp and to this day people are still shoving the story of him sending pictures of sexual nature to his teammates without the girl's consent.

He'll get this shoved in his face for a long time still, for something that, if it happened in Canada, we wouldn't even know about it because he was a minor at the time. He has faced everything the law in europe has given him (which was a fine).

But everyone should be fine with Ovechkin supporting Putin, helping finance him and make him popular, participate in official government fund raisers and still respect his choice of being best buds with someone responsible for thousands of deaths?

So yeah, without diminishing what Mailloux did, what the actual (frank)?
- Scabeh

As I keep saying what Mailloux did was against the rules/law and what Ovie is doing is not.

Until the government or the league itself puts laws/rules into place he’s technically not doing anything wrong beyond his moral standing to a lot of people. That isn’t punishable however.

We would have the world’s nicest two goalies
- Canada Cup

true

Exactly.

So there are no rules in place that he’s breaking. So he’s technically doing nothing punishable.
- Dozzer

I don't think the punishment would be suspension. I think Wedgie is saying the NHL and its partners could stop actively using him to promote their product.

Sponsorship contracts always contain some very friendly language allowing the Corp to cut ties with someone if/when they deem their behaviour offside their corp values.

Then please explain how Roman Abramovich has lost control of Chelsea.

Or closer to home:

Quick facts
Since Russia’s illegal occupation and attempted annexation of Crimea in 2014, Canada has sanctioned over 900 individuals and entities, with many of these sanctions undertaken in coordination with our allies and partners. Canada’s sanctions will impose asset freezes and dealings prohibitions on listed persons.

Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, Canada has sanctioned nearly 500 individuals and entities from Russia, Ukraine and Belarus.

https://www.canada.ca/en/...-invasion-of-ukraine.html
- Atomic Wedgie

I love it. The government should sanction Ovi by striping him of all goals scored in Canada, preserving the record held by the (kind of) great Ukrainian Wayne Gretzky

Bobby Mac saying Sandin and Kase may both be going on LTIR

Then please explain how Roman Abramovich has lost control of Chelsea.

Or closer to home:

Quick facts
Since Russia’s illegal occupation and attempted annexation of Crimea in 2014, Canada has sanctioned over 900 individuals and entities, with many of these sanctions undertaken in coordination with our allies and partners. Canada’s sanctions will impose asset freezes and dealings prohibitions on listed persons.

Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, Canada has sanctioned nearly 500 individuals and entities from Russia, Ukraine and Belarus.

https://www.canada.ca/en/...-invasion-of-ukraine.html
- Atomic Wedgie

Ovie doesn’t work in Canada so none of the rules here apply to him.

Bobby Mac saying Sandin and Kase may both be going on LTIR
- Santo_44

Well that sounds boring.

I don't think the punishment would be suspension. I think Wedgie is saying the NHL and its partners could stop actively using him to promote their product.

Sponsorship contracts always contain some very friendly language allowing the Corp to cut ties with someone if/when they deem their behaviour offside their corp values.
- The Law

Bolded: 100% agree but they haven’t. So Ovie isn’t breaking rules with his poopty behaviour.

Well that sounds boring.
- The Law

More cap space. With retention that's a lot more than it seems.

Who said anything about illegal?
Doesn't have to be illegal.
- Santo_44

He isn’t breaking a law or any rules established by the league that the NHLPA accepted.

So he’s not technically doing anything wrong.

I do agree tho… morally he is, but technically he isn’t.

He isn’t breaking a law or any rules established by the league that the NHLPA accepted.

So he’s not technically doing anything wrong.

I do agree tho… morally he is, but technically he isn’t.
- Dozzer

Racism changed pretty quick in the NHL...This should too

They should realize their mistake now instead of having to punish players a decade down the line for something they do today

The league has rules against racism and that’s the primary difference.

Unless the league creates a rule that the NHLPA is willing to accept then Ovie is doing nothing more than just being an bumhole.

(To be clear I do completely agree with you Wedgie when it comes to what I think of the guy)
- Dozzer

Not true:

18-A.2 Commissioner Authority to Impose Discipline for Off-Ice Conduct. Whenever the Commissioner determines that a Player has violated a League Rule applicable to Players (other than Playing Rules subjecting the Player to potential Supplementary Discipline for On-Ice Conduct), or has been or is guilty of conduct (whether during or outside the playing season) that is detrimental to or against the welfare of the League or the game of hockey, he may discipline such Player in any or all of the following respects:
(a) by expelling or suspending such Player for a definite or indefinite period;
(b) by cancelling any SPC that such Player has with any Member Club; or
(c) by imposing a fine on the Player not exceeding the maximum permissible fine
under Section 18.7(b).

But I guess that would mean Bettman would have to take a stand, and we know that isn't going to happen.

P.S. I realize I'm quite hot on this topic, and please know that my posts are not meant to be an attack on you personally.

I spent the March Break with dear friends - the wife's brother and his family have been displaced by the war. They have fled Kyiv - currently in Poland. They are lucky - he's got a Canadian passport, so they could leave. They both work for international companies, so they are being taken care of.

But our friend gets a constant stream from her brother about just how bad it is.

It's now a full-on humanitarian crisis. Thousands dead, millions displaced.

Yet the NHL turns a blind eye to a guy who actively supports the war criminal responsible for this - because what, they think they can sell more OV t-shirts?

The league has rules against racism and that’s the primary difference.

Unless the league creates a rule that the NHLPA is willing to accept then Ovie is doing nothing more than just being an bumhole.

(To be clear I do completely agree with you Wedgie when it comes to what I think of the guy)
- Dozzer

I agree with Wedgie as well. In terms of rules against overt racism, yes there are rules. The league does very little on speaking out and punishing racists.

Example - what did the NHL do when Tim Thomas refused to go to the Whitehouse because the President was African American?

Bolded: 100% agree but they haven’t. So Ovie isn’t breaking rules with his poopty behaviour.
- Dozzer

Here's maybe the best way I can think to explain the difference you guys are having: Trevor Bauer in MLB has been on an administrative suspension for . . . what . . 8 months? Law enforcement investigated his behaviour and found that they could not successfully prosecute his case (this doesn't mean there isn't guilt, but it does mean that there's enough reasonable doubt that it wouldn't likely lead to a conviction). I am not sure if there are outstanding civil suits, but I'd imagine there are. At this point, Bauer has broken no laws. Yet MLB has suspended him for 8 months (with pay) because of the optics of the situation and the fact that they are an organization who is beholden to their sponsors and the media influences involved as well.

The NHL is no different in this regard. If they felt that Ovechkin's political positions were a bad look, they would have to take some form of action - they can absolutely as a private corporation do so - but so far they have not been pressured by their sponsors or media influences.

Ovie doesn’t work in Canada so none of the rules here apply to him.
- Dozzer

The United States have taken almost identical steps to sanction Russians associated with Putin.

Ovie should be on that list.

How is Ovie different from Abramovich?

I agree with Wedgie as well. In terms of rules against overt racism, yes there are rules. The league does very little on speaking out and punishing racists.

Example - what did the NHL do when Tim Thomas refused to go to the Whitehouse because the President was African American?
- winsix

If the NHL makes a rule to kick out aresholes... There will be lots of teams in need of players.

I agree with Wedgie as well. In terms of rules against overt racism, yes there are rules. The league does very little on speaking out and punishing racists.

Example - what did the NHL do when Tim Thomas refused to go to the Whitehouse because the President was African American?
- winsix

I hated Tim Thomas as much as the next Leafs fan, but this was not what he said.

The United States have taken almost identical steps to sanction Russians associated with Putin.

Ovie should be on that list.

How is Ovie different from Abramovich?
- Atomic Wedgie

Can tend goal ??

If the NHL makes a rule to kick out aresholes... There will be lots of teams in need of players.
- bixll

But they do have that rule.

They just don't apply it enough.