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NHL Bad Boys Behind Bars – Part One

By Aryssah Stankevitsch

May 12, 2014; Anaheim, CA, USA; Los Angeles Kings defenseman Slava Voynov (26) during game five of the second round of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Anaheim Ducks at Honda Center. The Ducks defeated the Kings 4-3 to take a 3-2 series lead. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
May 12, 2014; Anaheim, CA, USA; Los Angeles Kings defenseman Slava Voynov (26) during game five of the second round of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Anaheim Ducks at Honda Center. The Ducks defeated the Kings 4-3 to take a 3-2 series lead. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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While they might not be as bad as other leagues, the NHL has their share of bad boys.

The NHL has by no means as many bad boys as any of the other major sports leagues, but when you’re making a couple million a season, you can get the mindset of being invincible. Hey guys, you may not get caught in the wrong spot on the ice, but you can still get caught off.

Slava Voynov

Most recent on our list is the 24-year-old defenseman who is now suspended indefinitely, following a domestic violence dispute with his girlfriend, who was admitted to an LA hospital with alarming injuries. Voynov has not yet been charged, but posted a $50,000 bail. He cannot play or practice with the Kings, but will continue to be paid his $25-million over six years. Voynov’s court date is set for December 1. Similarly, former LA captain Ziggy Palffy was charged with domestic violence during his NHL tenure, but his charges were later dropped.

Claude Giroux

On this past Canada Day, the Flyers captain was partying in his offseason home of Ottawa, and repeatedly grabbed a (male) officer’s rear. He was arrested, and following his release from jail in the AM, Giroux apologized. His charges were dropped. The 26-year-old I suppose celebrated his previous Hart Trophy-nominated season too heavily.

Dustin Byfuglien

Big Buf was charged with driving (a boat) while intoxicated, or a BWI, in his hometown of Minnesota. He refused to take a sobriety test, and was arrested/released the same day. Byfuglien pleaded guilty, paid a $1,000 fine, and completed community service of garbage pickup for two days. A little exercise could’ve helped the 26-year-old at the time – he weighed in at 286 at the police station.

Patrick Kane

May 21, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Blackhawks right wing Patrick Kane (88) during the first period of game two of the Western Conference Final of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Los Angeles Kings at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
May 21, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Blackhawks right wing Patrick Kane (88) during the first period of game two of the Western Conference Final of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Los Angeles Kings at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports /

Kane, 20 at the time, took a cab home with his cousin to his parents house after a night out in Buffalo. When Kane and his cousin gave $15 for the $14.80 fare and the driver didn’t have 20 cents to give, Kane and his cousin punched the cabbie in the face, grabbed his throat, broke his glasses – and took back their $15. Kane was arrested for second degree robbery, fourth degree criminal mischief, and theft of services. Kane pleaded not guilty.

Brett Sutter

Young NHLers really don’t like taxi drivers. After being thrown out of an Arizona bar for being disorderly during the Flames “Rookie Night”, Sutter punched a cab driver and was charged with a assault. The Flames demoted the 23-year-old to the minors, and then traded him to Carolina. Sutter plead guilty, and was charged a grand total of $323.

Kevin Stevens

So you’re a 34-year-old All-Star NHL player, married with two kids (and a third on the way). What do you do to celebrate a win over St. Louis? Hell, let’s get some cocaine and a prostitute. Stevens was charged, and spent two months in the NHL’s substance abuse program, dropping the drug charges. He didn’t return to play for the Rangers, but instead, signed as a free agent with Philly (whose GM at the time was Paul Holmgren, a former drunk-driving convict).

Bob Probert

Read all of his book “Tough Guy” for his numerous run-ins with the law. His most notable charge was at the Canada/US border in 1989, where he was found with 14.3 grams of cocaine in his underwear. By age 22, Probert had five rehab stints, and was spending $800 per week on cocaine.

Ed Belfour

Don’t you love when people throw out the “do you know who I am?” At a drunken fight at a hotel, Eddie the Eagle was held for six hours before being released on $500 bail. Belfour pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, and bribery. The last one? He told an officer he’d pay one billion dollars to drop the charges. Instead, he paid a $3,000 fine and was given two years of probation. At age 41, he was yet again charged with resisting arrest after a scuffle at a Florida nightclub.

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