You can get a flat out release within the confides of a situation like Mike Richards, but his case is being argued by the NHLPA to not allow what the Kings did and details are now just getting out. Partially it seems the instance was because Richards got arrested for drug possession maybe at the border patrol and he failed to say anything to the Kings about it for a week until media reports got out... but they also don't want him as a player to begin with on his contract so they were hoping to use it to sneak away from having a cap casualty in waiving him.
I don't think a normal bad criminal case is still enough to get outright released like that. The NHL would probably step in at that stage and indefinitely suspend the player but they'll remain under contract but not take up cap I think. Like where Voynov is
