The NHL will wait for the judicial process to play out before making any decisions about four players facing sexual assault charges in a 2018 case involving Canada91裸聊视频檚 world junior team that year, Commissioner Gary Bettman said Friday (Feb. 2).

Addressing the situation at All-Star Weekend days after the NHL players were charged by police in London, Ont., with sexual assault, Bettman called the allegations 91裸聊视频渁bhorrent, reprehensible, horrific and unacceptable.91裸聊视频�

Carter Hart of the Philadelphia Flyers, Michael McLeod and Cal Foote of the New Jersey Devils, and Dillon Dube of the Calgary Flames are all on indefinite leave from their teams. Bettman said the league does not consider it necessary to suspend the players without pay for the rest of the season.

91裸聊视频淎t this stage, the most responsible and prudent thing for us to do is await the conclusion of the judicial proceedings, at which point we will respond as appropriate at the time,91裸聊视频� Bettman said. 91裸聊视频淭he fact that they91裸聊视频檙e away from their teams and not playing I91裸聊视频檓 comfortable with. They91裸聊视频檝e been paid the vast bulk of their salary for the year anyway. We91裸聊视频檙e coming down to the stretch run of when compensation is paid to players. That91裸聊视频檚 not the concern. The concern is to get this right.91裸聊视频�

Bettman pointed out that all four do not have contracts beyond this season, and it appears unlikely any of the teams involved would attempt to terminate a deal before then.

91裸聊视频淚t becomes irrelevant in terms of the timing,91裸聊视频� Bettman said. 91裸聊视频淭hey91裸聊视频檙e all away from their teams on leave, and (then) they91裸聊视频檙e all free agents. They won91裸聊视频檛 be under contract after this season anyway. In order to terminate a contract successfully, you need to be able to prove certain things.91裸聊视频�

Former NHL player Alex Formenton has also been charged. Attorneys for all five players have said their clients are innocent. London Police have scheduled a Monday news conference to provide an update on the case.

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Because of a legal backlog in Canada, it is unclear when any court proceedings might begin, let alone wrap up. Asked about the eligibility of Hart, McLeod, Foote and Dube in the meantime, Bettman said he 91裸聊视频渨ould be surprised if they91裸聊视频檙e playing while this is pending.91裸聊视频�

91裸聊视频淚f I were them, I would be focusing on defending themselves, assuming the charges come down,91裸聊视频� Bettman said.

Bettman has wide latitude to make decisions in the interest of the game. The league in 2019 suspended Los Angeles Kings defenseman Slava Voynov for the 2019-20 season and ensuing playoffs after determining he committed acts of domestic violence. Shane Pinto was suspended for 41 games for violating the league91裸聊视频檚 gambling policy.

The NHL launched its own investigation in 2022 and pledged to release the findings. Bettman said that investigation took roughly 12 months, finishing up last summer. Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly added that nothing will be released while the case is ongoing.

NHL Players91裸聊视频� Association executive director Marty Walsh was tight-lipped about his and the union91裸聊视频檚 role in the situation.

91裸聊视频淚 think you have to wait and see what happens in the courts and how the court proceedings go,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淎nd then after that, you have a conversation about what the next steps are. But I think you can91裸聊视频檛 go that far down the road right now.91裸聊视频�

A woman sued Hockey Canada in 2022, alleging she was sexually assaulted in a hotel room by eight members of Canada91裸聊视频檚 world junior team after a fundraising gala in London in 2018. Hockey Canada settled the lawsuit, and then an investigation revealed the organization had two secret slush funds to pay out settlements on claims of sexual assault and abuse.

Bettman said the league found out about the allegations on May 26, 2022. He said the NHL interviewed every player from that team, adding the woman involved declined to take part in the investigation.

91裸聊视频淭here91裸聊视频檚 no fault there,91裸聊视频� Bettman said. 91裸聊视频淪he was absolutely within her rights not to talk to us, and we respect that, but that impacts also how the investigation had complexity to it.91裸聊视频�

Stephen Whyno, The Associated Press