Slava Voynov unable to play in KHL

Los Angeles Kings defenceman Slava Voynov, who plead no contest in July to misdemeanour charge of domestic violence, moved back to his native Russia before the NHL season started rather than fight potential deportation. Originally, it was believed Voynov would sign with a KHL team to continue his career.

But according to Sportsnet’s Damien Cox, it’s not quite that simple.

He’s got a problem back in Russia. He doesn’t seem to be able to play in the KHL, Cox said during Saturday’s second intermission Headlines segment. First of all as Bill Daly deputy commissioner of the NHL told me, there hasn’t yet been a decision on whether they have to honour his contract. And St. Petersburg and another team are fighting over his rights. So we don’t know what’s going on with him. But we do know that he’s planning on selling his house in the LA area.

Voynov was suspended for the final 76 games of last season because of the charges against him.

After Voynov returned to Russia, the Los Angeles Kings terminated the final four years of his contract, which still had $19.25 million left on it.

Voynov was a second round pick (32nd overall) by the Kings in 2008. In 190 career NHL games, the 25-year-old scored 81 points.