Players’ union pushes back after NHL rules five players acquitted of sex assault ineligible
July 25, 2025
Players’ union pushes back after NHL rules five players acquitted of sex assault ineligible
29 comments
“The National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA) is pushing back against the NHL after the league announced the five players acquitted of sexual assault are ineligible to play while it reviews the judge’s findings.
The NHLPA says the league’s declaration “is inconsistent with the discipline procedures set forth in the CBA.”
“After missing more than a full season of their respective NHL careers, they should now have the opportunity to return to work,” the players’ association said.”
What a total and complete shitshow all of this is, from every possible angle.
Obviously the PA was gonna fight back. In the end I think the players will be allowed to return.
Sure…bringnthem back..see how that goes over in the NHL rinks around the league.
honestly why do i expect any decency from hockey players at this point. these guys haven’t played for 3 years but they want them back?? jesus christ bettman please have a spine and do something good for once
[deleted]
As they should. The NHL should not be above the law
How is it possible that the league and PA didn’t get this sorted in advance?
No one wins in this mess.
They were acquitted, which matters a lot. They are officially not criminals. That being said, I agree with this step, because the league can still take action against them for breaching the conduct policy. Though, it still shouldn’t bar them from playing. Maybe a further suspension.
As to be expected. This isn’t surprising ro anyone.
Yeah this is a unions job, I’d expect no less from any union.
Funny, you lot had already convicted these men. Anyone want to recant their story?
The NHL will eventually make them eligible again. And I wouldn’t be surprised if they did it before the season starts either. They are just going to review the judgment and their own policies before making a snap call on it. To be honest, probably smart to put some time between the verdict and announcing them as eligible.
Not that I think any of them get a call from an NHL team, maybe Hart does a couple months into the season if a team is really desperate
Fuck the NHL PA. They are condoning the player’s actions.
Do the players have a case against the teams that terminated their contract before a verdict?
No means Later
We live in a land of laws. These guys were found no guilty in the highest profile case possible. We can all believe what we want to. But this is the system we have until we live in a full on minority report type state. The players are innocent in the eyes of the courts, and thus they should be free of any penalty
So the NHL will look this over and yet didn’t fully investigate the Valeri Nichushkin. Makes sense
Acquittal doesn’t mean not guilty or innocent. They’ll appeal the case if the woman wants to try again. When they dismissed the jury it turned into a shit show. The legal system needs to do better.
The nhl is waiting to see and the PA is doing what any union wld do
We know she consented to it all. I mean the more I read the facts and evidence it’s undeniable. My question, why are these guys getting vilified by the public as pieces of shit and shouldn’t be allowed to play etc when they engaged in CONSENSUAL LEGAL sexual activity? All actual rapists and predators should face harsh discipline but are people so blinded and stuck in their ways they can’t see the actual truth? It’s almost like people WANT them to be rapists which is a disgusting way of thinking. I’m seeing so many posts like “they shouldn’t be allowed to play again” “they’re all pieces of human trash etc etc” but nobody has answered me WHY? You know how many freaky players there probably are that do consensual “odd” sexual behaviors that we just don’t know about and shouldn’t? Is a guy who is into BDSM and other (legal) kinks be fired from his job for enjoying those things? It was a bunch of young guys who had a night of sexual pleasure with a female who has stated had a “porn star” mentality? What’s the problem? The same people who defend porn stars and OF models when they’re publicly “shamed” are the same ones jumping from the rafters calling these guys piece of shit. But why? Please some give me a non emotional fact based argument on why these guys should be shamed for engaging in consensual legal sexual activity from fuckin 7 years ago? ANYONE!
Hockey Canada had an out of court settlement wit this woman. She never showed her face, hid from the media but wanted it all. Yes the players made a foolish mistake participating in this behavior as well. Both parties were at fault for sure.
I’m glad to see these young men aren’t going to jail. Hopefully all parties learned a lesson here
Any team who signs them will have a probable PR crisis on their hands
Oilers just signed all 5 its what they do best
This is the duke lacrosse case all over again
God anyone who defends these monsters is the reason hockey has the culture issue they do. That case was bullshit and a failure of justice. All these men should be in prison
Here’s the deal, acquitted. They’ve lost a season plus of hockey and pay.
Should have never got to this point. So poor choices made.
Their behavior is still detrimental to the league. Anyone want to explain to their 7-year-old what an orgy is and why their favorite hockey player participated in one. This toxic culture needs to go away, it’s gross.
As they should, I hope they win as well. The five players were found innocent and the league has no right to block their re-entry into it to try and rebuild their lives after the false allegations that were made against them. Really disappointing of the league to think they’re above the law and actual due process.
29 comments
“The National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA) is pushing back against the NHL after the league announced the five players acquitted of sexual assault are ineligible to play while it reviews the judge’s findings.
The NHLPA says the league’s declaration “is inconsistent with the discipline procedures set forth in the CBA.”
“After missing more than a full season of their respective NHL careers, they should now have the opportunity to return to work,” the players’ association said.”
What a total and complete shitshow all of this is, from every possible angle.
Obviously the PA was gonna fight back. In the end I think the players will be allowed to return.
Sure…bringnthem back..see how that goes over in the NHL rinks around the league.
honestly why do i expect any decency from hockey players at this point. these guys haven’t played for 3 years but they want them back?? jesus christ bettman please have a spine and do something good for once
[deleted]
As they should. The NHL should not be above the law
How is it possible that the league and PA didn’t get this sorted in advance?
No one wins in this mess.
They were acquitted, which matters a lot. They are officially not criminals. That being said, I agree with this step, because the league can still take action against them for breaching the conduct policy. Though, it still shouldn’t bar them from playing. Maybe a further suspension.
As to be expected. This isn’t surprising ro anyone.
Yeah this is a unions job, I’d expect no less from any union.
Funny, you lot had already convicted these men. Anyone want to recant their story?
The NHL will eventually make them eligible again. And I wouldn’t be surprised if they did it before the season starts either. They are just going to review the judgment and their own policies before making a snap call on it. To be honest, probably smart to put some time between the verdict and announcing them as eligible.
Not that I think any of them get a call from an NHL team, maybe Hart does a couple months into the season if a team is really desperate
Fuck the NHL PA. They are condoning the player’s actions.
Do the players have a case against the teams that terminated their contract before a verdict?
No means Later
We live in a land of laws. These guys were found no guilty in the highest profile case possible. We can all believe what we want to. But this is the system we have until we live in a full on minority report type state. The players are innocent in the eyes of the courts, and thus they should be free of any penalty
So the NHL will look this over and yet didn’t fully investigate the Valeri Nichushkin. Makes sense
Acquittal doesn’t mean not guilty or innocent. They’ll appeal the case if the woman wants to try again. When they dismissed the jury it turned into a shit show. The legal system needs to do better.
The nhl is waiting to see and the PA is doing what any union wld do
We know she consented to it all. I mean the more I read the facts and evidence it’s undeniable. My question, why are these guys getting vilified by the public as pieces of shit and shouldn’t be allowed to play etc when they engaged in CONSENSUAL LEGAL sexual activity? All actual rapists and predators should face harsh discipline but are people so blinded and stuck in their ways they can’t see the actual truth? It’s almost like people WANT them to be rapists which is a disgusting way of thinking. I’m seeing so many posts like “they shouldn’t be allowed to play again” “they’re all pieces of human trash etc etc” but nobody has answered me WHY? You know how many freaky players there probably are that do consensual “odd” sexual behaviors that we just don’t know about and shouldn’t? Is a guy who is into BDSM and other (legal) kinks be fired from his job for enjoying those things? It was a bunch of young guys who had a night of sexual pleasure with a female who has stated had a “porn star” mentality? What’s the problem? The same people who defend porn stars and OF models when they’re publicly “shamed” are the same ones jumping from the rafters calling these guys piece of shit. But why? Please some give me a non emotional fact based argument on why these guys should be shamed for engaging in consensual legal sexual activity from fuckin 7 years ago? ANYONE!
Hockey Canada had an out of court settlement wit this woman. She never showed her face, hid from the media but wanted it all. Yes the players made a foolish mistake participating in this behavior as well. Both parties were at fault for sure.
I’m glad to see these young men aren’t going to jail. Hopefully all parties learned a lesson here
Any team who signs them will have a probable PR crisis on their hands
Oilers just signed all 5 its what they do best
This is the duke lacrosse case all over again
God anyone who defends these monsters is the reason hockey has the culture issue they do. That case was bullshit and a failure of justice. All these men should be in prison
Here’s the deal, acquitted. They’ve lost a season plus of hockey and pay.
Should have never got to this point. So poor choices made.
Their behavior is still detrimental to the league. Anyone want to explain to their 7-year-old what an orgy is and why their favorite hockey player participated in one. This toxic culture needs to go away, it’s gross.
As they should, I hope they win as well. The five players were found innocent and the league has no right to block their re-entry into it to try and rebuild their lives after the false allegations that were made against them. Really disappointing of the league to think they’re above the law and actual due process.