It’s that time again when we take a look at what’s been happening in hockey’s business and legal world. Once a week we cover the big and not so big stories in this arena. We also include a featured story of the period. Let’s take a look at what has been happening this period.
Hockey’s Business and Legal News
Evgeny Kuznetsov Enters Player Assistance Program
Washington Capitals forward Evgeny Kuznetsov has entered the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program. This program assists players who may be dealing with personal issues including mental or emotional struggles as well as substance abuse. While the reason for Kuznetsov’s entrance is not apparent, he will be able to return to play when cleared by the program administrators.
Evgeny Kuznetsov (@Capitals) to receive care from NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program. https://t.co/CtNevRfsi1 pic.twitter.com/wpjC92CZTI
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) February 5, 2024
Noah Corson, Son of Former NHLer Shayne Corson Found Guilty of Sexual Assault
Noah Corson was found guilty of sexually assaulting someone who was under age 16 when he was 18. Corson was never drafted into the NHL but did play for the Drummondville Voltigeurs of the QMJHL. Corson is the son of former NHLer Shayne Corson.
Former Drummondville Voltigeurs player Noah Corson was found guilty today of sexually assaulting a teenager who was under the age of 16.
— Rick Westhead (@rwesthead) February 9, 2024
Corson, who is now 25, was 18 at the time of the assault in the fall of 2016. He was not drafted into the NHL.
Two other hockey players, one of…
CHL and NCAA May Be Talking Eligibility
It has virtually always been the rule that if a player decides to go play in the CHL they become ineligible to play NCAA hockey. This has to do with the rules on amateurism that the NCAA has. We previously took a look at this in an article here. Because the CHL players are paid to play (even though they are exempt from the legal requirements for employees), this negates their NCAA eligibility. Meanwhile, the design of other junior leagues such as the BCHL and USHL maintains its players’ NCAA eligibility.
As discussed in the last two periods’ hockey’s business and legal updates, the BCHL decided to go independent from Hockey Canada and has drawn other teams into its league. Following these actions, the CHL and NCAA may be discussing the possibility of CHL players retaining NCAA eligibility. It would likely take some time for this to come to fruition, if it even does. But the ripple of effects from this move could be interesting.
Some MASSIVE hockey news buried in the latest 32 Thoughts Podcast with @FriedgeHNIC & @JeffMarek
— Andrew Brewer (@Abrew2014) February 5, 2024
EF- "The CHL & the NCAA are talking very seriously about if you are eligible to go to school in the United States after your CHL career is done, you can go play for an NCAA Team"…
Time is Ticking in Arizona
The Arizona Coyotes are still playing at Mullet Arena – a college arena they share with Arizona State. NHLPA director Marty Walsh expressed his frustration with the Coyotes as we discussed in last period’s hockey’s business and legal updates. Now the NHL says that an indication on the future of the Coyotes in Arizona could be coming soon. Even though they have missed two “deadlines” to present plans for a new arena to the NHL, they are still hanging on. But the increased pressure and frustrations from the NHL and NHLPA may lead to different results. This is combined with Salt Lake City’s strong push for an NHL team.
Gary Bettman said we’ll have an announcement on #Yotes future in a few weeks. Sources say it could come as soon as this weekend.
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) February 6, 2024
What’s on the table? Three options, sources tell @DailyFaceoff.
Link: https://t.co/4uUKv9uwnY pic.twitter.com/CDe5YRL3ok
However, in response to all of this, the Coyotes have reportedly entered into a land deal in North Phoenix that should be completed in three months. Will this work out? Only time will tell.
Per a government source, an Arizona Coyotes land deal in North Phoenix could be wrapped up in 3 months.
— PHNX Coyotes (@PHNX_Coyotes) February 9, 2024
The 100 acres is right at the corner of the 101 and Scottsdale Road.@CraigSMorgan has the latest: https://t.co/eMK8DPYnER pic.twitter.com/Vp6UhJtusI
London Police Hold Press Conference on 2018 WJC Sexual Abuse Scandal
Following the major revelations from the 2018 WJC sexual abuse scandal over the last few weeks, including five NHL and former NHL players coming forward to face criminal charges, the London, Ontario police held a press conference to speak on the investigation and charges. While the press conference provided a lot of information, the charges presented included one charge of sexual assault against Alex Formenton, Cal Foote, Carter Hart, and Dillon Dube while Michael McLeod has two counts. The extra for McLeod is that he assisted someone else in completing the sexual assault. In addition, the London police chief also added that new evidence surfaced in 2022 related to this incident and is what paved the way for the case to be reopened.
Link to watch the London Police Service press conference on alleged 2018 World Junior team sexual assault: https://t.co/A4RDJqFXNR
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) February 5, 2024
Hockey Canada Speaks on 2018 WJC Sexual Abuse Scandal
After the London police’s press conference on the 2018 WJC sexual abuse scandal, Hockey Canada released its own statement. In addition to stating that Hockey Canada has fully cooperated with the police, they stated that all players from the 2018 WJC team are suspended from participation in any Hockey Canada sanctioned programs until the completion of an appeal of a review by an independent panel on the determination of which players from that team violated Hockey Canada’s Code of Conduct. This will not include the NHL/NHLPA 2025 4 Nations Face-Off. If the suspensions remain in 2026, the Olympics may be questionable.
#HockeyCanada has cooperated fully with the London Police Service and we are committed to continuing to support the legal process.
— Hockey Canada (@HockeyCanada) February 5, 2024
Hockey Canada a collaboré pleinement avec le Service de police de London et l’organisation continuera de soutenir le processus judiciaire.
NHL Clarifies Cap Effect on Teams Releasing Players Related to 2018 WJC Sexual Abuse Scandal
The NHL stated that teams with the four players taking leaves of absences due to the 2018 WJC sexual abuse charges would receive cap relief due to those players’ absences. It was previously provided that under the CBA those players taking leaves of absences would not count against the teams’ roster limits. Even though the NHL was quiet before, multiple reports now indicate cap relief due to these absences.
The Philadelphia Flyers, New Jersey Devils and Calgary Flames have been informed they will receive cap relief for the players on Leave charged in the 2018 World Junior criminal proceedings.
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) February 5, 2024
Bill Guerin Named Team USA GM
In preparation for the upcoming, recently announced, 2025 NHL/NHLPA 4 Nations Face-Off and 2026 Olympics, Team USA named former NHLer and current Minnesota Wild GM Bill Guerin as the team’s GM. He was named the GM for Team USA in 2022 but didn’t end up serving due to the NHL’s decision to not participate that year. He will have a tall task ahead to organize the coaching staff and team but USA has the potential to be a top team at both tournaments.
Bill Guerin Named USA General Manager For 2025 4 Nations Face-Off And 2026 Olympics #TeamUSA https://t.co/d2Q4EtBYVI
— Last Word On Hockey (@LastWordOnPuck) February 8, 2024
Anthony Duclair Giving Back in Florida
San Jose Sharks forward Anthony Duclair, through his foundation the Anthony Duclair Foundation, recently broke ground on a synthetic ice rink in South Florida. This rink will be at Boyd Anderson High School in Ft. Lauderdale. Duclair established this foundation to grow the sport and promote diversity and inclusion. This project will promote hockey in South Florida. The NHL/NHLPA Industry Growth Fund also supported this project.
Yesterday, the @Duclairfndation broke ground on its first synthetic ice rink in South Florida at Boyd Anderson High School 👏
— NHLPA (@NHLPA) February 8, 2024
The NHL and NHLPA are proud to support @aduclair10’s efforts through the @NHL and NHLPA’s Industry Growth Fund! pic.twitter.com/zvmGwHaJQE
Fox, Warner Bros. and Discovery to Create Sports Streaming Service
Fox, Warner Bros. and Discovery announced a new sports streaming service launching later this year. Each company will own one-third of the new venture. Current ESPN+, Hulu and Max subscribers will have access. While these streaming services currently provide NHL games, this new service may become a new option for subscribers.
BREAKING: Fox, Warner Brothers and Disney are creating a sports streaming product that is set to launch later this year per @WSJ
— Sportico (@Sportico) February 6, 2024
The service will be available to ESPN+, Hulu and Max subscribers and each company will own one-third of the product pic.twitter.com/y5WJ322y04
Kasperi Kapanen Fined in Finland for Drunk Driving Incident
In a previous hockey’s business and legal updates, we provided that St. Louis Blues forward Kasperi Kapanen had been charged with aggravated drunk driving in Finland. Kapanen has now been found guilty of that charge and assessed a $117,000 fine. Neither the NHL nor the Blues announced any supplemental discipline.
Kasperi Kapanen has been fined 108,700 euros (~$117,000 USD) for a drunk driving charge in Finland last August. https://t.co/AxH7gkOWQq
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) February 8, 2024
Hockey’s Business and Legal Updates Featured Story: John Tavares is Battling the Canada Revenue Agency
In this period’s hockey’s business and legal updates featured story, we take a look at Toronto Maple Leafs Captain John Tavares in a tax battle against the Canada Revenue Agency. This situation could actually have significant impacts on Canadian teams’ bargaining powers with top players.
At a high level, Tavares argues that the CRA should have taxed his $15.3 Million USD signing bonus at 15%. The CRA taxed it at 38%. This represents an $8 Million USD difference. Since the CRA already assessed the tax against Tavares, he filed an appeal in the Tax Court of Canada last week. Tavares’s argument is that the bonus should be taxed at 15% under a provision of the United States-Canadian tax treaty providing that the lower tax rate shall apply for “inducements,” such as signing bonuses, paid to athletes. The CRA has not filed a response yet.
The final holding in this case could prove to be a major one for athletes participating in sports with cross border teams. Specifically, it may make Canadian teams less attractive for free agents. This would include the NHL, MLB and NBA. Stay tuned on this one.
Report: Maple Leafs’ John Tavares fighting Canada tax agency claim that he owes $8 million https://t.co/s9yyikjaTL
— Daily Faceoff (@DailyFaceoff) February 7, 2024
Post image attribution: By Quintin Soloviev, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons