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Slava Voynov’s Felony Charge Complicates Los Angeles Kings’ Salary Cap Situation

By @powerplaywithcj

Getty Images

Getty Images

To put it lightly, the Los Angeles Kings are in salary cap trouble, and the latest bout of news won’t do them any favors. Kings defenseman Slava Voynov was arrested in October on suspicion of spousal abuse  and subsequently suspended with pay by the NHL.  It’s come down that Voynov will be charged with a felony for domestic violence and the ordeal will continue to drag on.

Voynov is due in court on December 1 for arraignment, and there’ll surely be more clarity with this whole situation by then. If convicted, Voynov faces up to nine years in a California State Prison, which has to be in the back of Voynov and his lawyers’ minds despite being a longshot. As more and more details come to light about the alleged crime and the possible legal ramifications, the NHL may have to move to modify their handling of the situation from the hockey side of the issue.

Obviously the legal proceedings are far more important than results on the ice as Voynov deserves his day in court despite being accused of a heinous crime. At a time when domestic violence in sports has become all too common, the league did the right thing in keeping Voynov away from the team. Having said that, from a pure hockey perspective, the Kings are getting shafted and have few options.

Voynov’s cap hit of over $4 million is staying on the books as dead money, and it is completely hampering the team’s ability to make a move to solidify the squad in an ultra-competitive Western Conference. The team may have dump a player like struggling center Mike Richards via trade for pennies on the dollar in return just to have some flexibility.

Surely, the combination of both scenarios don’t bode well for the Kings’ arduous task of defending the Stanley Cup.

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