Is it that simple in terms of cap hit if it's a long term suspension?

Obviously . Why would a player count against the cap if he’s suspended. It’s on the player not the team

They would probably have to terminate his contract to lose the entire cap hit. Unless, it’s a year-long suspension (or longer).

It sounds like Batherson was NOT involved.

Per section 50.10 (c) of the CBA, players suspended for off-ice events do not count against the cap for the length of the suspension.

The suspended players would be a 1 year suspension I’m assuming

Who knows when it comes to NHL suspensions

I don't believe Batherson was involved, and I'm a little confused as to how the NHL can suspend a player for simply being named.
If they're then found not guilty in a court of law couldn't they turn around and sue the NHL for the salary they lost without cause?

I think the league is within their rights to suspend any player charged with a crime pending outcome of trial. The players are still innocent until proven guilty but no way the nhl, or their teams, could allow them to play while legal proceedings unfold. I would think not guilty verdict would mean the player could return, but we have not seen Vertannen since his not guilty verdict. Any player found guilty will never play in nhl again imo.

Sidestepping the whole Bath suspension conversation... Do you really have Brännström as the 2nd line winger? lol

If he's guilty, it doesn't matter how long the suspension is. He won't play again in the NHL.

If Kleven is 100% ready to play in the NHL (and it looked like it), trade Brannstrom for a young 2-way forward