There is possible tension at the moment between the National Hockey League and the National Hockey League Players’s Association. The uneasiness has transpired after the NHL put out a statement on Friday after five players with NHL experience were found not guilty of sexual assault following a verdict made by Justice Maria Carrocia on Thursday.
What statement does the NHLPA have issue with?
On Friday, the NHL put out the following:
“The allegations made in this case, even if not determined to have been criminal, were very disturbing and the behavior at issue was unacceptable. We will be reviewing and considering the judge’s findings. While we conduct that analysis and determine next steps, the players charged in this case are ineligible to play in the League.”
NHLPA’s response
The NHLPA believes left winger Alex Formenton of King, Ontario, goaltender Carter Hart of Sherwood Park, Alberta, forward Dillon Dube of Golden, British Columbia, center Michael McLeod of Mississauga, Ontario, and defenseman Cal Foote of Kelowna, British Columbia should be eligible to return to the NHL.
Their comment was the following:
“Dillon Dube, Cal Foote, Alex Formenton, Carter Hart, and Michael McLeod were acquitted of all charges by Justice Carroccia of the Ontario Superior Court. After missing more than a full season of their respective NHL careers, they should now have the opportunity to return to work. The NHL’s declaration that the Players are “ineligible” to play pending its further analysis of the Court’s findings is inconsistent with the discipline procedures set forth in the CBA. We are addressing this dispute with the League and will have no further comment at this time.”
Interesting Timing
This is the first contentious issue that the NHL and NHLPA have had to deal with since the new collective bargaining agreement was agreed upon earlier this month. The contract agreement is in effect through to 2029-30.
It will also be interesting to see if any of the players play in the NHL this season, and how long it will take before the NHL makes a decision from their own individual review. It is also interesting that the NHLPA did not seem to directly address the NHL’s statement that the players’s actions “were very disturbing and the behaviour at issue was unacceptable.” One thing everyone must remember is that Dube, Foote, Formenton, Hart and McLeod were not ruled “innocent,” they were ruled “not guilty.”
