A Timeline of LA Kings Legal Troubles

Yes, the Los Angeles Kings have won two Stanley Cup championships in the last five years. Yes, they have been one of the best teams in hockey to watch in the last five years, but its what has been surrounding the Kings organization away from the ice is what has really stood out for the club. 

It all started back in 2012 when defenseman Drew Doughty was accused of rape by a 25 year-old woman from Hermosa Beach, CA. It was reported that the two met at a bar in Hermosa Beach, where the woman rejected multiple advances made by Doughty after which she was "forced" into a cab taken to Doughty's home where he supposedly raped her. Now, the case was dropped on claim of "low credibility" so Doughty is probably innocent. However I do feel that even though the case was never proven it is important to include in this timeline of unfortunate events.

Doughty

Next was probably the most notable legal issue out of these. In October of 2014, defenseman Slava Voynov was arrested at a hospital after a domestic violence incident involving him choking, kicking and beating his wife, Marta Varlamova. The report was that the incident began at a Halloween party where Voynov punched Varlamova in the face during an argument. The violence continued when the two returned home, and Voynov was reported to have choked her, pushed her into the corner of a hanging TV, and kicked her while lying on the ground. Fast forward 12 months after that, and Voynov had been suspended indefinitely by the Kings, had served time in prison with probation, and had decided to cut ties with the Kings and the NHL completely by returning to Russia. 

Voynov

Another legal issue hit the Los Angeles hockey scene. In late April 2015, center Jarret Stoll was arrested in Las Vegas on suspicion of possessing cocaine and Ecstasy. Since then, the charges have been dropped to misdemeanors. The misdemeanors include provoking commission of breach of peace and trespass. Stoll had just finished out the last year of his contract with the Kings, and this incident pretty much ruined his chance of being resigned by the at-the-time Stanley Cup champions. 

Stoll

On June 17, 2015 Mike Richards was stopped an ultimately arrested at the Canadian boarder under possession of oxycontin pills. This was one of the last straws for the Kings organization as they almost immediately sought to swiftly terminate Richards' contract, which had $22 million remaining on it. The second drug-related offense in three months for an organization already dealing with so many legal troubles.

Richards

Then, just when you thought it was over, it was reported on November 18 that Kings goalie prospect Patrik Bartosak had been accused in New Hampshire of 12 domestic-related charges involving his girlfriend, which also includes a felony assault charge alleging that he attempted to strangle her at an apartment. Bartosak is scheduled for a hearing on December 16 and faces trial on 11 separate misdemeanors in January. The Kings currently have suspended Bartosak. 

Bartosak

The Kings have taken initiative in doing something to help out this reoccurring problem. They have gotten together with The Herren Project, which is a company that works to educate pro athletes on the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse and will create a new position in the team among player management. The team has also announced that they plan to have players go through sexual harassment training

It has a been a whirl wind of legal troubles surrounding the Kings for these last few seasons. The steps taken by the club should hopefully provide some help, but that will only be able to do so much. The onus is on the players.