The NHL is expected to announce a significant suspension for defenseman Slava Voynov in the near future, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports (video link). He notes that the disciplinary hearing was held over the last couple of months. Presumably, the league would want to get that information out now and not wait to announce it during the postseason.
Voynov last played in the NHL in October of 2014 before being arrested and convicted of domestic abuse. He spent 90 days in jail and moved back to Russia a year later after the Kings terminated his NHL contract. The 29-year-old played for three seasons in the KHL with SKA St. Petersburg but he opted not to play there this season and began the process to reapply for reinstatement to the NHL after his conviction was dismissed last July following the conclusion of his probation period.
The expected suspension announcement will make that path to returning at least a bit clearer as any potentially interested teams will know how long Voynov will have to sit out next season. The blueliner will be eligible to appeal if he so desires.
The ECHL (Extremely Corrupt Hockey League) awaits, Slava! The rest of us refer to it as the Premier Prison League of North America…