The NHL has taken aim at a list of players and coaches who have been caught up in a slew of scandals, including a sex-abuse scandal that led to the retirement of NHL Hall of Famer Mark Messier.
The league’s commissioner says the list is a reflection of how it evaluates its employees, and it will be updated when the NHL unveils the next edition of its Player Loyalty Awards, which will be announced on Nov. 18.
“We will have a list on the back of our uniforms in 2019,” Commissioner Gary Bettman said.
“What we know now is we’re going to do our best to make sure that everybody gets that information.” “
Among the names being targeted is former Buffalo Sabres defenseman Ryan Kesler, who was suspended by the NHL last month after pleading guilty to an indecent exposure charge in a sexual-assault case. “
What we know now is we’re going to do our best to make sure that everybody gets that information.”
Among the names being targeted is former Buffalo Sabres defenseman Ryan Kesler, who was suspended by the NHL last month after pleading guilty to an indecent exposure charge in a sexual-assault case.
The NHL says Kesler lied to police about an incident in February 2015, when he was with the Los Angeles Kings.
In the months following that, Kesler was a frequent guest on Fox Sports’ “Outside the Lines” show.
During a January interview with host Chris Wallace, Kesller claimed he had no recollection of the incident, saying it had “no impact” on his life.
But during a subsequent interview with ESPN’s Mike & Mike on Tuesday, Keseller denied he had lied to the police.
“There’s a lot of things that I’ve said, and there’s a few things that have been proven, and I have been completely truthful and completely candid with everybody,” he said.
Bettman says Keselzer has been suspended indefinitely by the league and fined $10,000.
He also called Kesler’s plea deal with prosecutors a “significant blow” to his career, and said the NHL will be transparent about the details of the deal.
Keselier, who has a $10 million buyout on his contract, was arrested at his Florida home after being accused of having an inappropriate relationship with a 14-year-old girl, a case that was eventually settled with a $1 million settlement.
Kesler is currently out of action with a concussion, but he’s expected to return for a pre-season game on Oct. 19 against the Edmonton Oilers.
“If there was any sort of question whether this was a professional athlete or not, it was immediately proven to be a professional,” Bettman told ESPN.
“He’s not going to be the same player and not the same person if he was never on the ice.”
In an interview with “Outside of the Lines,” Kesler said he had told the authorities that he “did not recall the incident.”
Bettman confirmed that Kesler has denied the allegations, saying Keselist told investigators that he was intoxicated, but that he denied the charges when he first went to police.
Keslier, however, said he was lying when he denied any inappropriate contact.
“The truth is I was in my bedroom when he [Kesler] walked in.
And I said ‘Oh my God, he’s there.
He’s here,'” he said, adding that he had “never had a consensual encounter with him.”
Keseliers lawyer, Brett Wimmer, said the allegations against Kesler were “a fabrication.”
“It’s an absolutely false accusation,” he told “Outside The Lines.”
“He has not been charged with any crime and the case is closed.
There is no basis to this.
There’s no evidence whatsoever to suggest this is true.”