Voynov is in a sticky situation due to his legal troubles, and may not step on the ice for the Kings this season, or ever again. After posting a career-high 34 points in 2013-14, Voynov suited up for just six games last season being arrested in late October on a domestic violence charge. After accepting a plea deal over the summer, Voynov is in the midst of a 90-day prison sentence, but once that's served, it's unclear whether or not he’ll be eligible to play by the league, as he’s currently suspended indefinitely. Further complicating matters is that he's recovering from a torn Achilles tendon, an injury he acquired off the ice this past spring while he was under suspension. If he plays at all, it will be interesting to see what a year-long layoff and a return from a serious injury does to Voynov's abilities. With the NHL providing no indication yet that Voynov is on track for a reinstatement, there might be a better chance that he ends up playing in the KHL this season rather than skating with the Kings.
Voynov trailed only Drew Doughty in points among Kings' blueliners with 34 in 82 games despite a large drop-off in his shooting percentage and a lengthy slump to start the season. His offensive game took a bit of a back seat in the playoffs, but he still logged heavy minutes and should certainly see his offensive game bounce back to its regular-season levels.
Voynov's breakout season (nine goals, 19 assists in 48 games) carried over into the postseason (six goals, seven assists in 18 games) and earned him a six-year contract extension with the Kings. He got more power play time as the season wore on and you can look for that trend to continue. He may be overvalued due to last year's success and postseason performance, but is on his way to surpassing Drew Doughty as the Kings' best fantasy blue liner. Yes, you read that correctly.
Voynov has a developing offensive game (eight goals and 12 assists in 54 games) and figures to improve on those numbers, especially if he can begin to earn a few more shifts on the power play. The 22-year-old figures to pair with the veteran Willie Mitchell on the team's second pairing, which should yield plenty of ice time as he looks to take his game to the next level.
Voynov took his game to the next level in his third season with Manchester in the AHL, posting 51 points (15 G, 36 A) in 76 games which ranked him seventh among AHL blueliners. He's quite possibly the most offensively-gifted defensemen in the Kings' system outside of Drew Doughty but it remains to be seen if the Kings will give the 21-year old a chance to earn a spot in training camp. He's likely headed back to Manchester to anchor the Monarchs' defensive corps.
