The Russian Hockey Federation has named a replacement for Slava Voynov on its roster for the World Cup of Hockey, appointing Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Nikita Nesterov to the squad.
Voynov was named to the initial roster for the NHL-branded showcase despite serving an indefinite suspension after being arrested and charged following a domestic incident in October 2014.
The Russian Federation fought to have the former Los Angeles Kings defender exempt after being informed of Voynov's ineligibility but was once again overruled, and acknowledged as such Monday.
Nesterov, 23, represented Russia in junior competition, but never at the men's level. He was on Russia's second- and third-place teams at the 2012 and 2013 World Junior Hockey Championships.
He joins Nikita Kucherov, Vladislav Namestnikov, and Andrei Vasilevskiy on the Russian squad, and makes 13 Lightning players named to the event.
In the Russian Federation's statement, Voynov's candidacy for international events was emphasized, as well as the fact that he and his wife were recently married.
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