...Within hours of the rulings, the NHL said the five men will remain ineligible to play in the league pending a review. All five were members of the 2018 world junior championship team and had at some point played in the NHL.
"The allegations made in this case, even if not determined to have been criminal, were very disturbing and the behaviour at issue was unacceptable," the NHL statement said. "We will be reviewing and considering the judge's findings. While we conduct that analysis and determine next steps, the players charged in this case are ineligible to play in the league."
The NHL Players' Association (NHLPA), however, contends otherwise.
"After missing more than a full season of their respective NHL careers, they should now have the opportunity to return to work," the NHLPA said in a statement Thursday evening. "The NHL's declaration that the players are 'ineligible' to play pending its further analysis of the court's findings is inconsistent with the discipline procedures set forth in the collective bargaining agreement. We are addressing this dispute with the league and will have no further comment at this time."