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Los Angeles Kings Must Trade Slava Voynov

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By @Kevin_Saito

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

He’s been a pretty integral part of the Los Angeles Kings‘ two Stanley Cup runs, but Slava Voynov‘s run in L.A. may be coming to an end. Or at least, it probably should be. Following Voynov’s arrest on charges of felony spousal abuse, his future with the club – and in the NHL – is very much in doubt. If he does manage to avoid time in prison, and is allowed to continue with his career though, it needs to be in another team’s sweater. GM Dean Lombardi and the Kings must trade Voynov – sooner rather than later.

On Oct. 19, Voynov was taken into police custody at the hospital where his wife was receiving treatment for injuries suffered during an altercation with him. A statement from the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office, in part, read:

During an argument at their Redondo Beach home on Oct. 19, Voynov caused his wife to suffer injuries to her eyebrow, cheek and neck. The injuries were serious and required medical attention at a local hospital where the defendant was arrested.

The penalties Voynov is facing for his domestic abuse charges include up to nine years in prison as well as possible deportation back to his native Russia. Voynov has been suspended indefinitely – with pay – while his legal case moves forward.

It doesn’t take much of a leap of faith to believe that Voynov will receive similar treatment to another athlete recently charged with domestic abuse – that would be Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice. Both as a first time offender, and with his wife pleading for leniency in the matter, there remains the possibility that Voynov’s camp could negotiate a plea deal with the district attorney’s office that would allow the defenseman to avoid jail time.

Before that happens though — and the NHL agrees to lift Voynov’s suspension, allowing him to resume his career — Lombardi and the Kings would be wise to deal the 24-year-old, getting whatever they can for him. The league has already given the Kings salary cap relief, taking Voynov’s $4.167 million cap hit off of their books, and giving some flexibility to the team while he remains suspended. Now Lombardi and the Kings must move forward and plan for their lives without the talented defenseman.

Domestic violence has finally been thrust into the spotlight after a series of high-profile incidents in the NFL. The NHL, seeking to avoid the same sort of mismanagement, bungling and make-it-up-as-you-go-along way the NFL has handled it’s own cases, acted swiftly and forcefully, and rightfully so. Domestic violence is a very serious problem in this country. It’s one that shouldn’t be taken lightly, and one that should be punished harshly. Simply put, there is no room in this society for the sort of violence and abuse people like Rice, Voynov and Greg Hardy of the Carolina Panthers, among others, have directed at their wives and girlfriends.

The league was right to drop the hammer on Voynov, and now it’s up to the Kings to do the right thing. Voynov, by causing great bodily injury to his wife, has made himself radioactive, and a player the team can no longer afford to keep on the roster.

Dean Lombardi and the Kings’ front office need to do the right thing. They need to send a message that domestic violence will not be tolerated by either releasing Voynov outright or dealing him to somebody willing to take on the stigma of having a domestic abuser on their roster for whatever meager return they can get for him.

Kevin Saito is a fiction writer, sports junkie, and regular contributor to www.RantSports.com Follow him on Twitter, Facebook, or on Google

 

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