The Arizona Coyotes have placed forward Adam Ruzicka on unconditional waivers to terminate his contract following a controversial social media post. Ruzicka shared a video showing white powder resembling cocaine and a credit card on a counter, prompting the team's decision. The Coyotes announced on Friday that Ruzicka was being waived for termination purposes and declined further comment.
Ruzicka, who is in the second season of a two-year contract worth $1.525 million, joined the Coyotes recently after being claimed off waivers from the Calgary Flames in January. The 24-year-old Slovakian has played three games with Arizona, recording no points, after tallying nine points in 39 games with Calgary. Since his NHL debut in April 2021, Ruzicka has appeared in 117 games.
This season, Ruzicka becomes the second player in the league to have his contract terminated, following Corey Perry of the Chicago Blackhawks, who faced a similar situation due to violating team workplace policy. Perry, however, was granted an extension to file a grievance and has since resumed playing with the Edmonton Oilers.
The NHL has a history of disciplining players for off-ice behavior. In 2019, Washington Capitals' Evgeny Kuznetsov received a three-game suspension for inappropriate conduct. Kuznetsov had previously been banned from playing for Russia for four years due to a positive cocaine test. The league took action after a video surfaced during the world championships showing Kuznetsov near a table with white powder and dollar bills.
Off-ice conduct remains a significant issue in professional sports, with leagues like the NHL enforcing strict policies to maintain player accountability and uphold the integrity of the game.
Source: AP NHL
