NHLPA Files Suspension Appeal On Behalf Of Slava Voynov
As expected, the NHL Players’ Association will appeal the suspension of defenseman Slava Voynov that was handed down by the NHL on Tuesday. TSN’s Pierre LeBrun was the first to report than an appeal has been filed and the case will be heard by a neutral arbitrator. A date for the hearing has not yet been announced.
Voynov, 29, was suspended for the entire 2019-20 season and 2020 postseason by the league yesterday for “unacceptable off-ice conduct”, with a conditional date of reinstatement set for July 1st, 2020. Voynov received a lifetime ban from the NHL in 2014 following an incidence of domestic violence and subsequent arrest and conviction, shortly after which he fled to his native Russia. However, the league’s recent decision at least opens the door to a return for the talented blue liner, who spent three years playing abroad in the KHL and sat out the 2018-19 season while awaiting a decision on his NHL reinstatement.
Yet, the league’s leniency was not enough in the eyes of Voynov and the NHLPA. It took only 24 hours for this appeal to be filed as the player’s side tries to shorten the suspension. The NHLPA has had great luck of late in front of an arbitrator; both Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson and Nashville Predators forward Austin Watson had highly-publicized long-term suspensions reduced by arbitrator Shyam Das this season. If Das is to again be the one to hear the case, the odds of a reduction are in Voynov’s favor. While the NHLPA does not necessarily condone the actions of Voynov or any other disciplined players, they have a duty to fight for the players’ rights.
The appeal was also likely supported by the Los Angeles Kings, who still own Voynov’s NHL rights. Whether or not the Western Conference’s last-place teams wants to bring the veteran defender back or instead trade him away, a quicker reinstatement is of value to the Kings. The team has still declined to comment publicly on Voynov’s reinstatement, but have no doubt talked with the player, league, and players’ association throughout this process.
Jack Eichel Receives Two-Game Suspension
For the second time today, the Department of Player Safety has handed down a two-game suspension. This time, it’s Sabres center Jack Eichel who has been suspended for an illegal check to the head on Saturday against Colorado center Carl Soderberg.
As a result, he will miss Buffalo’s upcoming games on Tuesday against Dallas and Thursday versus Pittsburgh. Eichel will be able to return on Saturday against Carolina.
This is the first time in his career that he has been suspended which is particularly notable from a financial perspective. He will forfeit a little over $107K to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund which represents 2/186 of his $10MM AAV. Had he been a repeat offender, the fraction would have changed to 2/82 which would have resulted in a forfeiture of just under $244K.
Philadelphia’s Jakub Voracek Suspended Two Games For Interference
The Department of Player Safety announced that they have suspended Philadelphia Flyers forward Jakub Voracek two games for interference on New York Islanders forward Johnny Boychuk. Both Jack Eichel and Voracek were informed this morning that they would receive a hearing for their hits, but the DoPS started with Voracek, whose team plays on Monday, while Buffalo doesn’t play again until Tuesday.
Voracek back-checked a streaking Boychuk in the third period of Saturday’s game (video here), although some feel that Boychuk was making a run at Voracek and not the puck. However, the Department of Player Safety didn’t see it that way as they handed him a two-game suspension for it. Boychuk is currently undergoing concussion protocol and is questionable for Monday’s game against Columbus.
The 29-year-old Voracek will miss the next two games, including Monday’s game against Ottawa as well as Thursday’s home game against division-leading Washington. CapFriendly reports that since Voracek isn’t a repeat defender, his two-game suspension will cost him $88,709.68 in salary.
Radko Gudas To Have Hearing With Department Of Player Safety
Not only is Nikita Kucherov continuing his incredible offensive season, but now he’s drawing suspensions too. Radko Gudas will have a hearing today with the Department of Player Safety after high-sticking Kucherov in last night’s Philadelphia Flyers-Tampa Bay Lightning game. With Kucherov’s back turned and the puck already on its way out of the zone, Gudas brought his stick down hard on top of the Lightning forward’s head. Gudas did receive a minor penalty on the play.
This is not the first time that Gudas has faced supplementary discipline, in fact far from it. The Flyers defenseman has been suspended three times in his career, most recently for a similar play against Winnipeg forward Mathieu Perreault. In that instance, Gudas was given a ten-game suspension for what was admittedly a more violent slash to the head. Still, the fact that he has a long history with the Department of Player Safety will certainly not work in his favor this time around.
Kucherov appeared to not suffer an injury on the play, but the league will be sure to protect their leading scorer and potential Hart Trophy winner. The Lightning forward has 99 points already and snapped a five-game multi-point streak against the Flyers. It’s been an outstanding year for the entire Tampa Bay organization, but Kucherov especially has been at another level than the rest of his NHL competition.
Paul Byron Suspended Three Games
The Department of Player Safety has decided that Paul Byron‘s hit on MacKenzie Weegar was deserving of a suspension, and have issued a three-game ban to the Montreal Canadiens forward. The accompanying video explains exactly why the league felt three games was the appropriate punishment:
It is important to note that this is not a case where a player comes off the ice after contact due to the force of the hit. This is also not a case where slightly as part of a natural hitting motion when delivering a full-body hit into a larger player. Byron launches himself excessively upwards, coming off the ice to deliver the hit and in the process makes significant and forceful head contact. While we recognize that Weegar is turning as he makes a play on the puck, the onus is on Byron not to elevate excessively and launch into the hit.
Byron, not known by any standard as being a dirty player in the league, has released his own statement on the incident.
I accept and respect the decision made by the Department of Player Safety. I would like to make it clear I had no intention of causing injury or finishing my check through MacKenzie Weeger’s (sic) head. I think my history and the way I conduct myself on the ice show a lack of intent to injure other players. Despite the lack of intention, I have to accept responsibility for my hit and realize the result of the hit was to the head and caused injury. I would like to sincerely apologize for my hit and wish MacKenzie all the best and hope he is okay. I’ve learnt a lesson through this and will make sure any future hits result in a clean and legal fashion.
Though first-time offenders rarely get three games, the league also took into account that Weegar suffered an injury on the play. That will force Byron to sit out for a week, missing games against the Columbus Blue Jackets, Philadelphia Flyers and Arizona Coyotes. Unfortunately, that takes the Canadiens right up to the All-Star break and CBA mandated bye week, meaning he won’t actually be able to suit up for the team until February 2nd.
San Jose Sharks’ Erik Karlsson Suspended Two Games
The Department of Player Safety announced that they have suspended San Jose Sharks defenseman Erik Karlsson two games for an illegal check to the head Saturday against Los Angeles Kings forward Austin Wagner. Karlsson is expected to miss two Pacific Division contests, including tonight’s game against Arizona and then a Dec. 27 game against the Anaheim Ducks. Karlsson will be eligible to return on Dec. 29 in Edmonton.
It’s a blow for San Jose, who have seen an uptick in production from their big offseason acquisition. Karlsson has scored 11 points over the past 10 games (all assists). The incident occurred 2:33 into the second period when Karlsson checked Wagner in the neutral zone with his shoulder that appeared to hit Wagner’s head. Karlsson admitted Saturday that it was an accident.
“It’s one of those plays, I’m closing (the) gap, and he skates into me,” he said. “I don’t really even lean into him. I’m in his lane, and just shoulder-to-shoulder hit. Unfortunately he went down hard and he didn’t come back, and I hope he’s OK, but at the end of the day it’s a hockey play.”
Karlsson has never been suspended in his career and was fined just once for a slash in 2012. Under terms of the collective bargaining agreement and based on his annual average salary, Karlsson will forfeit $69,892.48, which will go to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.
Snapshots: Melnyk, Burakovsky, AHL
The Ottawa Senators’ Lebreton Flats arena bid was dealt an expected death blow when owner Eugene Melnyk filed a $700MM lawsuit against his former partner John Ruddy, who was part of the group trying to acquire the development rights to the area. Now Ruddy has filed his own counterclaim, seeking more than $1 billion according to the Canadian Press. In the counterclaim Trinity Development, Ruddy’s company, alleges:
CSMI’s and Melnyk’s true aim is to have the City of Ottawa or Trinity fund and build the $500 million event centre for the Ottawa Senators hockey team, with the Senators getting 30 years’ free rent. CSMI also wants the valuable naming rights and an unreasonable degree of control over the Lebreton project.
Meanwhile, Melnyk’s group has issued a statement offering to amend the original plan and have Trinity fund the project but also take all of the expected profits. Though not technically dead, it does seem like a difficult path forward for the Senators to try and get a new arena near the downtown core. Lebreton was arguably their best chance for now, meaning they’ll be stuck dealing with the arena in Kanata going forward. That rink is far from the city center and difficult for many fans to get to, especially for weekday games.
- While Andre Burakovsky‘s name has surfaced in trade rumors recently, Isabelle Khurshudyan of the Washington Post is quick to point out that the Washington Capitals are not necessarily shopping the young forward around at this time. Though they would certainly listen to offers, the hope is that Burakovsky can turn things around on his own and be the productive middle-six forward that they have hoped he would be for some time. The 23-year old has just eight points this season and has never fulfilled the promise he showed as a young forward in Sweden or the OHL. Burakovsky is also a restricted free agent at the end of the season with arbitration rights, which could certainly give any acquiring team pause given his salary is already at $3MM this year.
- The AHL announced multiple suspensions today, handing out a two-game ban to Matt Puempel and a three-game ban to Stephen Gionta. The two forwards, playing for the Grand Rapids Griffins and Bridgeport Sound Tigers respectively, will have to sit out a few contests over the holiday season following their supplementary discipline.
Mark Giordano Suspended For Two Games
The Department of Player Safety announced that Flames defenseman Mark Giordano has received a two-game suspension from a kneeing incident involving Minnesota center Mikko Koivu on Thursday night. In addition, the league also revealed that winger Ryan Lomberg has also been suspended one additional game on top of the automatic one-game suspension he received for instigating a fight in the final five minutes of that same contest.
Koivu sustained an injury on the play which may have factored into the league’s decision. The team announced (Twitter link) that Koivu will not play tonight in Edmonton and has been sent home by the team for further evaluation. There is no timetable for his return and his loss will certainly be felt as he sits tied for third on the Wild in scoring with 21 points in 27 games.
Both players will miss Calgary’s games against Edmonton and Nashville this weekend and will be eligible to return on Wednesday against Philadelphia. They’re both first-time offenders so they will forfeit 2/186 of their respective cap hits. As a result, the suspension will cost Giordano just over $72K while Lomberg loses a little under $8K.
Snapshots: Luongo, Wilson, AHL
The Florida Panthers have sent Michael Hutchinson back to the minor leagues, indicating that Roberto Luongo is ready to get back into the crease. The veteran goaltender has been dealing with a lower-body injury, and is a huge part of the Panthers’ chances of competing for a playoff spot this year. When he’s healthy and on the ice the team looks almost completely different, despite his .902 save percentage.
Luongo is just 19 games behind Patrick Roy for second on the all-time games played list, and just nine behind Ed Belfour for third on the wins list. Those kind of numbers are going to make him a lock for the Hall of Fame, but it’s the Stanley Cup that remains just out of reach. Luongo will turn 40 in April, but has amazingly only been to the playoffs seven times and has just 70 postseason appearances under his belt. If that number is to increase the Panthers are going to have to put it together in the second two-thirds of the season.
- As expected, the Philadelphia Flyers have hired Rick Wilson as an assistant coach for the remainder of the season. Wilson, a long-time NHL assistant, had previously been hired by new GM Chuck Fletcher in his previous job for Minnesota. Head coach Dave Hakstol‘s job appears to be safe for now, but it seems likely that Fletcher will re-evaluate the entire staff after the season.
- Two players have earned suspensions in the AHL. Dennis Gilbert of the Rockford IceHogs has been suspended three games for an illegal check to the head, while Alex Gallant of the Chicago Wolves is out for the next two games after earning a match penalty in Sunday’s game. Gallant, a 25-year old undrafted forward, has been suspended multiple times in the past by the AHL and doesn’t have a single point yet this season. Gilbert on the other hand is a third-round pick of the Chicago Blackhawks in his first professional season.
Mark Borowiecki Suspended For Three Games
Mark Borowiecki‘s return to Ottawa’s lineup didn’t last very long. In his first game back following a suspension for an elbowing incident against the Bruins, the league announced that he has been suspended for three games for an illegal check on Golden Knights center Cody Eakin on Sunday.
The incident occurred in the first period of the game and Borowiecki was assessed a five-minute major penalty for charging and a game misconduct on the play. However, the fact that he was just coming off of a suspension likely did not sit well with the Department of Player Safety as it’s their expectation that suspensions are supposed to serve as deterrents moving forward.
The 29-year-old is now viewed as a repeat offender for salary forfeiture purposes, meaning that he will forfeit just under $44K in salary (3/82 multiplied by his $1.2MM salary). Borowiecki will be eligible to return to Ottawa’s lineup on November 4th against Tampa Bay. With the Sens down to just 12 healthy forwards and seven defensemen on their roster, they may decide to make a roster move in advance of their game on Tuesday night.