Kings defenseman Slava Voynov was arrested Monday on suspicion of domestic violence and has been suspended, the NHL announced.
The suspension is indefinite, pending an investigation by the league. Voynov, 24, is in his fourth season with the Kings.
Kings GM Dean Lombardi could not be reached for comment Monday morning.
The Kings released a statement Monday morning that said: “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.”
There were limited details about the Voynov case, but the incident is being handled by authorities in Redondo Beach, according to the city’s Police Department.
[Updated at 8:59 a.m.: Sgt. Paul Ribitzki of the Redondo Beach Police Department confirmed the arrest and said the incident occurred on Sunday night. Voynov’s bail amount was $50,000.
Additionally, Voynov’s court date is scheduled for Oct. 22 in Torrance, according to Ribitzki. The department could not release any additional details.]
The NHL’s release stated: “The league may suspend the player pending the league’s formal review and disposition of the matter where the failure to suspend the player during this period would create a substantial risk of material harm to the legitimate interests and/or reputation of the league.”
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, who was in Los Angeles for the Kings’ Stanley Cup banner raising on Oct. 8, said at a news conference beforehand that the league has been talking about such behavioral issues with its players for more than a decade.
“We focus on counseling and education,” Bettman told Times columnist Helene Elliott.
He also said the league has “mechanisms in place” to deal with such incidents.
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