❗️Nichushkin suspended 6 months

In today’s edition:

• ❗️ Nichushkin suspended 6 months

• 🛑 IIHF bans Fedotov for 3 years

• 🔥 Maple Leaf’s Keefe fired

• 🚔 Soucy suspended 1 playoff game

• And more!

Nichushkin suspended 6 months

Valeri Nichushkin of the Colorado Avalanche was placed in Stage 3 of the NHL/NHL Players' Association Player Assistance Program on Monday.

The NHL/NHLPA player assistance program has four stages. Stage 1 is the first in-patient treatment for which there is no penalty. In Stage 2, following a violation of the Stage 1 treatment plan, a player can be suspended without pay during the active phase of treatment and then become eligible for reinstatement.Stage 3, following a violation of the Stage 2 treatment plan, carries a suspension without pay for at least six months after which a player can become eligible for reinstatement. Stage 4, following a violation of the Stage 3 treatment plan, carries a suspension of at least one year, and reinstatement is not assured.

The news of Nichushkin being placed in Stage 3 of the NHL/NHL Players' Association player assistance program was announced a little more than an hour before puck drop. No further information was given about why Nichushkin was admitted into the program.

IIHF bans Fedotov for 3 years

The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) has sanctioned Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Ivan Fedotov, KHL club CSKA Moskva, and the Russian Ice Hockey Federation for disregarding Fedotov’s 2022 entry level contract.

Fedotov signed the deal in May 2022, attempting to join the Flyers ahead of the 2022-23 season. But he was detained by Russian authorities when trying to leave the country and forced to serve one calendar year of military service. The Athletic’s Kevin Kurz reported that this service came on an aircraft carrier in the Murmansk region, far from the front lines.

He went on to sign a two-year KHL contract with CSKA this season, warranting the sanctions. The official punishments, per an IIHF statement, are as follows:

• Fedotov is suspended from playing in any IIHF competitions, including the Olympic Games, for the next three years.

• Fedotov will receive a six-month suspension from playing at the club level should he leave the Flyers to play for an international club.

• CSKA will be banned from making international transfers for two years, beginning on August 11, 2024 and ending on August 10, 2026.

• The Russian Ice Hockey Federation has been assessed a fine of one million Swiss Francs.