NHL acts swiftly after Slava Voynov arrest

The NHL's decision to suspend Los Angeles Kings defenseman Slava Voynov within eight hours of his arrest on suspicion of domestic abuse would suggest that the sports community has learned from NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell's mistakes in handling the Ray Rice case.

The NHL will not allow Voynov to participate in any team events pending a league investigation of what prompted his arrest after midnight California time. In accordance to the rules of collective bargaining agreement, he will be paid while the investigation is ongoing.

Last October, Colorado Avalanche goalie Semyon Varlamov was arrested on an assault charge after his girlfriend said he hit her. He played while his case was being investigated. Charges were dropped because prosecutors said they couldn't prove the case.

"Certainly, the landscape has changed in the last six months in terms of how these things are handled," NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly told USA TODAY Sports. "But even more importantly, the facts and circumstances that we were dealing with this morning are different than what existed in last year's experience."

In the Voynov case, according to a statement from Redondo Beach Police Lt. Joe Hoffman, officers responded to a report of a family fight.

Hoffman said a caller reported "that a female could be heard screaming for the past 20 minutes and could be heard crying."

Responding officers couldn't determine which house the woman likely was in. Plus, they received information that a woman had left earlier in a vehicle.

At 1 a.m. PT, according to Hoffman, the Torrance Police Department notified the Redondo officers that an adult woman was being treated in the Little Company of Mary Hospital emergency room for injuries possibly received during a domestic violence incident in Redondo Beach.

After interviewing the victim, who requested that her name not be released, police arrested Voynov at the hospital.

His lawyer, Craig Renetzky, said Voynov was arrested for domestic violence but has not been charged. He was released on $50,000 bond. A Dec. 1 court date has been set.

"His case is still under investigation, and we don't know whether charges will be filed," Renetzky said. "There is a possibility that they won't be."

Asked about Voynov's state of mind, Renetzky said his client is "unhappy, but understands this is going to take some time to get clarified."

Although Voynov is innocent until proven guilty, the Rice case demonstrated that society expects sports leagues to take a firm stance in domestic violence cases.

Goodell originally suspended Rice for two games, and then changed the penalty to an indefinite suspension after a video showing him striking his wife was made public. Rice was cut by the Baltimore Ravens.

Acknowledging that he made a mistake, Goodell has instituted a policy that dictates a six-game suspension for the first offense in domestic abuse and a lifetime ban for a repeat offer.

The NHL has no specific domestic abuse suspension policy. A six-game suspension represents 37.5% of an NFL regular season. A suspension of that magnitude would be 31 games in the 82-game NHL regular season.

The Kings issued a statement: "These developments are a 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 proceeding and the investigation by the NHL take their course."

Voynov played an important role on both of the Kings' Stanley Cup teams in 2012 and 2014, but it would be difficult for the organization to show much support for him while the facts are being sorted out.

The only positive to emerge from the Rice case was a raised awareness of the appalling nature of domestic violence. Seeing Rice strike his then-fiancée reminded us how despicable this crime is.

America took a stand because people didn't believe Goodell's original punishment reflected the seriousness of the act. They were vocal around the lunchroom, on talk shows, through social media and with comments under news stories on high-profile websites

The Rice case was a reminder of how society can enact change. Public opinion made a difference. Goodell admitted his mistake. And apparently he wasn't the only sports leader to receive the message. None of the sports leagues want to be judged as being soft on domestic violence. NHL officials clearly understand that the acceptable course of action is to remove the accused player from the workplace until guilt or innocence can be determined.

The NHL is sending its own message that any suggestion of domestic abuse will be dealt with swiftly. Given how quickly the NHL responded, one would expect that if Voynov is found guilty, the punishment will be harsh.