Five members from Canada’s 2018 world junior team (Hart, McLeod, Dube, Foote and Formenton) told to surrender to police, facing sexual assault charges

[Hockey4Lyfe]

I mean it has been a pretty drawn out process. Ridiculous that it has taken this long to come to a decision on if to prosecute these guys.

With that said, you would have to think that the police have some pretty damning evidence for trial. No longer a he said she said situation.

Don’t want to speculate on the guilt or innocence of these guys because they deserve their day in court.

But from a team perspective, almost dumb to make a hasty judgement and terminate contracts. Especially Hart. Flyers would look like fools if it comes to light Hart played no part, was innocent, and was released from the Flyers.

If they are guilty of it, does it matter if their contracts are terminated today or when it happens? Either way it 100% will and the scum bags of the group (or entire group) will get to worry about their next steps in life from a jail cell more than likely.

Talk about lighting your life on fire with one stupid decision.

 

[MXD]

Would save them million in actual cash and avoid the PR mess of them paying alleged rapists.

But the NHLPA could and probably would challenge, which would probably make everyone look even worse, and if it doesn't hold, penalties applied in further seasons.

 

[Mobiandi]

The Flames surely had some idea of what might happen. I don’t know what they were thinking.

 

[bossram]

Sorry for being out of the loop but do some believe they will get jail time or is this more they agree to get help, be on probation and continue to have no further contact with said victim?

It's likely beyond that. They're charged and going to trial. If convicted, they will be in jail for significant time.

 

[RegDunlop]

There are drunk drivers that live with remorse, there are murders that live with remorse.

So i don't see why it's so far fetched that a guy knowing his career his over wouldn't feel that guilt as well even if it's his own fault.

Yes. There are all kinds of people living with remorse for many things. What I'm inferring is that these 5 (or however many), if indeed are guilty, have shown none to this point and have simply carried on their lives. I know I'm assuming this but I doubt I'm wrong.

I'll be even more disgusted when they - again, if found guilty - start the disingenuous remorse and apology tour.

 

[wetcoast]

The question is whether being charged is enough of a reason to move to terminate a contract. I believe that's what the Kings did with Mike Richards and the Sharks with Evander Kane.


Would save them million in actual cash and avoid the PR mess of them paying alleged rapists.

I was wondering how people in the states feel about this considering how the most recognizable convicted rapist down there seems to be suffering zero negative impact?

Like I said it makes one wonder.

 

[Yukon Joe]

Typically Crown prosecutors would only recommend charges if they thought they had a good chance of conviction.

Sorry but I'm going to go deep in the weeds here.

Crown Prosecutors don't recommend charges. Police do. What happens is police lay the charge, then hand the file over to the prosecutors.

BC is slightly different - there they have a "charge approval" process where the Crown does have to sign off on the charge before it is laid. There might be other provinces that follow the charge approval process, but I only know of BC (note - I'm only licensed in Alberta).

 

[Rich Nixon]

I mean it has been a pretty drawn out process. Ridiculous that it has taken this long to come to a decision on if to prosecute these guys.

With that said, you would have to think that the police have some pretty damning evidence for trial. No longer a he said she said situation.

Don’t want to speculate on the guilt or innocence of these guys because they deserve their day in court.

But from a team perspective, almost dumb to make a hasty judgement and terminate contracts. Especially Hart. Flyers would look like fools if it comes to light Hart played no part, was innocent, and was released from the Flyers.

If they are guilty of it, does it matter if their contracts are terminated today or when it happens? Either way it 100% will and the scum bags of the group (or entire group) will get to worry about their next steps in life from a jail cell more than likely.

Talk about lighting your life on fire with one stupid decision.

If the trial isn't going to get underway for more than a year, it makes no difference. None of these guys is signed beyond this season (do you wonder why?)

Termination allows teams to save face in the short term (because the optics here are awful regardless) and also keep a couple bucks. They'll all move to terminate and be allowed to do so. Can't even see the PA objecting on their behalf.

 

[Edgelord]

I mean it has been a pretty drawn out process. Ridiculous that it has taken this long to come to a decision on if to prosecute these guys.

With that said, you would have to think that the police have some pretty damning evidence for trial. No longer a he said she said situation.

Don’t want to speculate on the guilt or innocence of these guys because they deserve their day in court.

But from a team perspective, almost dumb to make a hasty judgement and terminate contracts. Especially Hart. Flyers would look like fools if it comes to light Hart played no part, was innocent, and was released from the Flyers.

If they are guilty of it, does it matter if their contracts are terminated today or when it happens? Either way it 100% will and the scum bags of the group (or entire group) will get to worry about their next steps in life from a jail cell more than likely.

Talk about lighting your life on fire with one stupid decision.

I bet that night consisted of a whole slew of bad choices by more people than just the guys.

 

[CanesUltimate11]

Four of these guys have NHL contracts that continue until the end of the season. Do their respective clubs now proceed to terminate said contracts or do they continue to pay them out for another 3 months?

Unless they really need the cap savings I'd think they just leave it rather than fight to terminate the contract. Or just suspend them without pay since they've been charged and try that route.

 

[KrisLetAngry]

Well these 5 players allegedly did this and I hope that the crown if they find them guilty throw the book at them.

If innocent well lucky them

 

[RegDunlop]

Why now? He was likely informed to surrender by the police shortly before they made their announcement. I'm sure if this investigation had yielded results last season, he mightve taken leave then.

And if they are guilty, it wouldn't have stressed him all throught the years, like, say when they reopened the case?

Anyway just don't like the thought of them (if guilty) just carrying on. And I do have some acceptance of taking stress leave because of this situation. It's not entirely unfounded.

 

[MXD]

If the trial isn't going to get underway for more than a year, it makes no difference. None of these guys is signed beyond this season (do you wonder why?)

Termination allows teams to save face in the short term (because the optics here are awful regardless) and also keep a couple bucks. They'll all move to terminate and be allowed to do so. Can't even see the PA objecting on their behalf.

...I think they kinda have to.

 

[joestevens29]

Yes. There are all kinds of people living with remorse for many things. What I'm inferring is that these 5 (or however many), if indeed are guilty, have shown none to this point and have simply carried on their lives. I know I'm assuming this but I doubt I'm wrong.

I'll be even more disgusted when they - again, if found guilty - start the disingenuous remorse and apology tour.

Tough to say really. Some of these guys had on ice struggles over their careers already that could be in part from what happened that night getting to them. Really have no evidence one way or another if this was them simply carrying on their lives or if it was having an effect on them

There won't be much of an apology tour if guilty. They'll be in jail

 

[KingJoffrey]

If the trial isn't going to get underway for more than a year, it makes no difference. None of these guys is signed beyond this season (do you wonder why?)

Termination allows teams to save face in the short term (because the optics here are awful regardless) and also keep a couple bucks. They'll all move to terminate and be allowed to do so. Can't even see the PA objecting on their behalf.

Jake Virtanen was innocent too. While he was bad hockey player someone tried to ruin his life with lies.

 

[Edgelord]

Well these 5 players allegedly did this and I hope that the crown if they find them guilty throw the book at them.

If innocent well lucky them

If they are innocent I wouldn't call them lucky
but some of the alleged details are really bad, even if they were consensual.

 

[Ezekial]

Honest question, do these guys continue to get paid throughout the proceedings?

No, they get game checks for playing games. They and their teams haves mutually agreed to let them not play games to collect checks, but still have their contact in place.

 

[Lindberg Cheese]

I was wondering how people in the states feel about this considering how the most recognizable convicted rapist down there seems to be suffering zero negative impact?

Like I said it makes one wonder.

Bill Cosby? He’ll never work in this town again!

 

[Sasha Orlov]

It will come up. Defense lawyers are ruthless and I asked a few of my lawyer friends if the defense might use the fact that she settled for 3.5 million to try and ruin her credibility, they said they might. No guarantee it works

No it won’t, that would not be admissible lol

 

[Oilslick941611]

Can we speculate now?

 

[francis246]

Because - why now? Cause the sugar turned to shit?

Here's a question. If guilty of these despicable acts, how do you just carry on with life as if nothing happened? Like, does that mean it's their natural behavior?

I’ve never been in this situation so only Dube can answer. But you’d have to assume these players most likely never assumed they’d actually get charged. For some dealing with the reality that you have to face the consequences of your actions can send you into a spiral. Again I don’t have sympathy For Dube and I’m not asking anyone to have sympathy for him. But it’s not at all a surprise to me he’s having a melt down over this or did have a melt down that required him to be in the care of mental health professionals.

 

[Bear of Bad News]

Can we speculate now?

If you'd gotten here about three hours ago, you *might* have been one of the first fifty people to joke about this.

 

[Yukon Joe]

Whether the players continue to get paid or not is a question we don't know the answer to - except to the extent that since teams haven't tried to terminate their contracts, it looks like they will get paid.

It is possible for teams to terminate a contract - Corey Perry and Evander Kane are the two most recent examples. Whether they're allowed to is a process as outlined un the CBA.

Perry didn't challenge the termination - but he did then sign a new contract. Kane did challenge it - which wound up in a settlement.

Because I'm no expect on the NHL CBA, and I don't know the strength of the allegations, I can offer no opinion on whether their contracts are likely to be cancelled or not.

As a total aside - I once talked with a cop, who said you can tell how bad a criminal allegation against a police officer is by whether the officer is suspended with or without pay. But obviously - police officer and NHL player are very different professions.

 

[tornadowarning33]

Virtanen didn't get anything did he?

The Canucks went through the standard buyout process with Virtanen's contract after that season. He was never suspended without pay.

 

[Oilslick941611]

If you'd gotten here about three hours ago, you *might* have been one of the first fifty people to joke about this.

I’m sorry. Being 51st isn’t that bad.