The Vancouver Canucks need help on defence, particularly puck-moving defencemen who can create offence from the back end. They had one of the lowest-scoring defence corps in the NHL last season and haven’t had a defenceman score 40 points since 2012. So, it would be understandable if they had interest in a right-shot defenceman with 40-point potential who might be available at a bargain.
Except that defenceman is convicted domestic abuser Slava Voynov. The Canucks, and the rest of the NHL, should steer well clear of Voynov.
Let’s be clear: there’s no indication that the Canucks are interested in Voynov. A Russian report suggests that the Florida Panthers, Montreal Canadiens, New York Islanders, New York Rangers, and Winnipeg Jets are interested in signing Voynov. Elliotte Friedman has confirmed that there is significant interest in Voynov, but notes, “No one wants to go on-record because of the sensitivity.”
“Sensitivity” is one way to put it.
(Trigger Warning: Descriptions of domestic violence below)
It seems pretty understandable that people would be “sensitive” about the details of Voynov’s attack on his wife. The LA Times acquired the court documents from the case:
Marta Varlamova, Voynov's wife, told police the couple started arguing during a Halloween party. Voynov removed her costume glasses and stomped on them, then, outside the venue, he punched her in the left jaw, according to the report.
When asked by police what the argument was about, Varlamova "stated that she could not remember," the report said.
The dispute continued in the bedroom of the couple's Redondo Beach home, Varlamova told police. Voynov, she said, choked her with both hands three times.
"Voynov pushed her to the ground approximately six to seven times with both hands, telling her that he wanted a divorce and to 'Get out,' " the report said.
Varlamova told police that Voynov then kicked her five to six times while on the ground. She said she screamed for him to stop.
When she rose, the report said, Voynov pushed her into the corner of a flat-screen television mounted on the wall, opening a gash above Varlamova's left eye. Varlamova said the couple's bedroom was "covered in her blood."
"Voynov 'got scared' and the attack stopped," the report said.
The medical report described bruising, swelling and a cut above Varlamova’s left eye that required eight stitches to close. It also described "red marks and scratches" around her neck.
According to reports, Varlamova told the nurse at the hospital that this was not the first time Voynov had struck her. She stated again in a recorded interview with police that it was not the first time. Voynov’s probation report states, “According to the victim, she is scared of the defendant and he is very aggressive when he drinks.”
Voynov accepted a plea deal that reduced the charge from felony domestic violence to a misdemeanor corporal injury to a spouse, to which he pleaded “no contest.” That resulted in two months in jail and voluntarily deported himself back to Russia.
On July 2nd, Voynov will have an expungement hearing to have his misdemeanor charge wiped from his record. Since violent felonies are harder to expunge than misdemeanors, this possibility was likely considered when Voynov accepted the plea deal. If that hearing is successful, Voynov can apply for a work visa and apply for reinstatement into the NHL.
He shouldn’t be reinstated.
Some might argue that Voynov has paid his debt to society. They might say that since his wife has evidently forgiven him and they’ve moved on with their lives, that the NHL should do likewise.
I won't get into the many, many reasons why abuse victims stay with their abuser, but maybe there is forgiveness for Voynov. Maybe he’s taken steps to correct his behaviour and has become a better person and husband over the past three years. In fact, I sincerely hope that is the case.
None of that means the NHL needs to be associated with a convicted abuser. Allowing Voynov back into the NHL would signal to those hockey fans that have been victims of abuse that they don’t matter, that Voynov’s ability to play hockey is more important.
The NHL needs to do the right thing and make it clear that Voynov will not be welcomed back into the fold. If Gary Bettman and the NHL front office can’t do the right thing, then every NHL team needs to freeze him out in free agency. Do not give him an avenue back onto NHL ice.
I have no time for people that abuse people physically or mentally male or female. There’s a kid somewhere in the minors that deserves a chance. https://t.co/9m5L67CSIh
— Corey Hirsch (@CoreyHirsch) June 14, 2018
