In what might be the most asinine outlook regarding the Hockey Canada incident involving the 2018 World Junior team, one Sens fan has developed the idea that if either Alex Formenton or Drake Batherson are named in the investigation the Sens will benefit. We've all seen our fair share of bad takes on social media over the years, but this one might be the worst I've seen.
It is well known that most of, if not all of the members of the 2018 World Junior team aside from Formenton and Batherson have issued statements regarding their involvement of the alleged sexual assault that happened in June of 2018 after a Hockey Canada gala in London, Ontario. This Sens fan suggests that if Batherson and Formenton are implicated and suspended, it would only be for a single season. He also suggests that the suspensions would open the door for the Sens to acquire another top 6 forward while they are suspended because of cap space they would gain (that's not how suspensions work).
If you think Batherson and Formenton will be back in the NHL after one year if they are involved in the incident, you live in a fantasy land. Slava Voynov has not been back in the NHL since the 2014/15 season following charges of domestic assault stemming from an incident that occurred with his wife. At a time when the hockey world is under severe scrutiny and calls for a culture change, anyone involved in the incidents likely won't be playing in the NHL for a very long time - if ever again. Formenton or Batherson being implicated wouldn't help the Sens. If both are implicated, it would cripple them.
This investigation is a process. The fact of the matter is that we should be reserving judgement on Batherson and Formenton until the full range of details are known. If neither are implicated, that will be the end of it. However, if they are found to have been involved, that would not be a beneficial situation for the Sens in any way. It would be yet another black mark on hockey culture.
