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 Canada鈥檚 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 鈥渁bhorrent, reprehensible, horrific and unacceptable.鈥�

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.

鈥淎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,鈥� Bettman said. 鈥淭he fact that they鈥檙e away from their teams and not playing I鈥檓 comfortable with. They鈥檝e been paid the vast bulk of their salary for the year anyway. We鈥檙e coming down to the stretch run of when compensation is paid to players. That鈥檚 not the concern. The concern is to get this right.鈥�

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.

鈥淚t becomes irrelevant in terms of the timing,鈥� Bettman said. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e all away from their teams on leave, and (then) they鈥檙e all free agents. They won鈥檛 be under contract after this season anyway. In order to terminate a contract successfully, you need to be able to prove certain things.鈥�

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 鈥渨ould be surprised if they鈥檙e playing while this is pending.鈥�

鈥淚f I were them, I would be focusing on defending themselves, assuming the charges come down,鈥� 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 league鈥檚 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 Players鈥� Association executive director Marty Walsh was tight-lipped about his and the union鈥檚 role in the situation.

鈥淚 think you have to wait and see what happens in the courts and how the court proceedings go,鈥� he said. 鈥淎nd then after that, you have a conversation about what the next steps are. But I think you can鈥檛 go that far down the road right now.鈥�

A woman sued Hockey Canada in 2022, alleging she was sexually assaulted in a hotel room by eight members of Canada鈥檚 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.

鈥淭here鈥檚 no fault there,鈥� Bettman said. 鈥淪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.鈥�

Stephen Whyno, The Associated Press