Zak MacMillan

"CBJ"

Harrisburg, PA • United States • 23 Years Old • Male

Call For Controversy: What Is Wrong With the NHL

Over the past couple of years, there have troubles around NHL players and law enforcement and court systems. Seymon Varlamov. Slava Voynov. Clayton Stoner. Sean Avery. Ian White. Aaron Ward. Dan LaCouture. Jack Johnson. Linden Vey. Mike Richards. Jarrett Stoll. Alex Galchenyuk. Devante Smith-Pelly. Garett Ross. Patrick Kane. Evander Kane. And the list continues to grow.

Seymon Varlamov and Slava Voynov both got in trouble for domestic assault. Varlamov's incident occurred before the Ray Rice incident in the NFL, and there was not much discipline on the Avalanche goaltender. Voynov's incident occurred after the Rice incident, and the league and the Los Angeles Kings immediately suspended him. Before facing a verdict, he self-deported back to Russia, and now plays in the KHL. The problem now facing the Russian defenseman is that he is on the World Cup roster for Russia.

Clayton Stoner got in trouble with the law after he shot and killed a grizzly bear without a proper license. As a result, he suffered a temporary ban on hunting for several years.

Alex Galchenyuk and Devante Smith-Pelly were involved in a case where Galchenyuk's parenter was abusing him at their apartment, and they had a consult with the Canadiens' upper management. Smith-Pelly was eventually traded to the New Jersey Devils for Stefan Matteau.

Linden Vey is expected to stand trail in the court case surrounding his father in regards to the death of his mother. Jack Johnson is still battling his parents and the courts over his bankruptcy.

Mike Richards and Jarett Stoll. Both won Stanley Cups with Los Angeles. Stoll gets charged with cocaine possession; Richards gets stopped at the British Columbia border with prescription medications. The Kings let Stoll walk as a UFA this past summer, and they terminated the contract of Mike Richards.

Patrick and Evander Kane were investigated in Buffalo. Patrick was with taking advantage of a woman at his place. Patrick and brother (not Evander) beat up a cab driver in the past too. Evander had the same thing happen to him, but he was investigated, not charged like Patrick was. Patrick Kane was almost taken to court for what he did.

Kane's teammate in Chicago, Garrett Ross, was charged back in march on revenge. He was retaliating against a woman, and filmed it. But there were allegations and charges, and he was indefinitely suspended.

Sean Avery, former Ranger, Star, and King, was charged with criminal mischief and two accounts of criminal possession of a controlled substance. Avery was apparently throwing objects at moving cars while under the influence of prescription drugs.

Former Maple Leaf, Flame, and Red Wing defenseman Ian White was charged with possession of weapons.

Per TSN:

"White faces two charges of careless use or storage of a firearm or prohibited device, two charges of possession of a firearm in an unauthorized place and single charges of unauthorized possession of a firearm, unauthorized importing of a prohibited or restricted firearm, and breach of recognizance."

Aaron Ward, a former Bruin, Duck, and Hurricane was charged with domestic assault. Dan LaCouture, a former Bruin and Hurricane, was also charged with assaulting a woman.

With all these guys in trouble, what does this mean for current and upcoming players?

This could mean we are seeing the light of who hockey players really are in the NHL. There are good and bad people everywhere, and these guys are just making the wrong moves that are hurting the reputation of the league and the players in it.

What are your thoughts on hockey and the law?

More to come…
Filed Under: NHL crime law suspension court debate talk discussion

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