Kings' Darryl Sutter: 'Absolutely it was appropriate' to suspend Slava Voynov
Los Angeles Kings coach Daryl Sutter said "absolutely it was appropriate" for the NHL to suspend defenseman Slava Voynov for his domestic violence incident, according to the Orange County Register's Rich Hammond.
Kings center Jarrett Stoll called the suspension "adversity" for the team but said the players are "going to come through it."
Voynov was suspended indefinitely by the NHL after he was arrested early Monday near Los Angeles on domestic violence charges.
According to Redondo Beach police, officers responded to a call in the town after a neighbor heard a woman screaming and crying. The house in question was empty, but nearby Torrance police informed the Redondo Beach officers that a woman was being treated for possible domestic violence injuries at a nearby hospital. The officers met with the woman at the hospital and arrested Voynov, who was also there.
• MUIR: NHL gets it right with Voynov suspension
Voynov was released on a $50,000 bond around 11 a.m. ET Monday and is due to appear in court Dec. 1. His lawyer said charges haven't yet been filed against Voynov, though his case is being reviewed for felony consideration, according to ESPN.com.
The NHL said it suspended Voynov under a section of the Collective Bargaining Agreement that allows the league to do so for the duration of a player's criminal investigation if not doing so would result in "substantial risk of material harm to the legitimate interests and/or reputation of the League.”
The Kings released the following statement on Voynov's suspension:
These developments are of great concern to our organization. We support the NHL’s decision to suspend Slava Voynov indefinitely during this process, and we will continue to take appropriate action as the legal proceedings and the investigation by the NHL take their course.
In a similar incident last year, Colorado Avalanche goalie Semyon Varlamov wasn't suspended after he was arrested on domestic violence charges in an incident involving his girlfriend. The charges were later dropped.
Voynov, 24, has been with the Kings since 2011-12 and played in all 82 games for the team last season while helping it win the Stanley Cup. He played in all of the Kings' first six games this season, recording two assists and averaging 23:11 of ice time per game.
The Russia native signed a six-year, $25 million contract extension with Los Angeles before last season.
Voynov's case is the latest in a string of alleged domestic violence incidents that have taken on greater controversy in the wake of video released in September showing NFL running back Ray Rice striking his then-fiancée in an Atlantic City casino elevator.
- Ben Estes