The Arizona Coyotes have taken swift action in response to a social media post by forward Adam Ruzicka, opting to place him on unconditional waivers to terminate his contract. The decision follows the emergence of a video in which Ruzicka is seen with a white, powdery substance resembling cocaine and a credit card on a counter.
Ruzicka, who joined the Coyotes just a month ago after being claimed off waivers from the Calgary Flames, has been a subject of scrutiny since the video surfaced. The team announced its decision to waive Ruzicka for termination purposes and stated that it would refrain from making further comments at this time.
The 24-year-old Slovakian forward, currently in the second season of a two-year contract with a value of $1.525 million, has had a brief stint with the Coyotes, appearing in only three games and failing to register any points. Prior to his time in Arizona, Ruzicka played 39 games with the Calgary Flames, accumulating nine points.
This move by the Coyotes marks the second instance this season in which a player’s contract has been terminated, following Corey Perry’s termination with the Chicago Blackhawks due to a violation of team workplace policy. Notably, the NHL Players’ Association has sought an extension for Perry to file a grievance, and he has since resumed playing with the Edmonton Oilers.
The NHL has a precedent of disciplining players for off-ice conduct, similar to Ruzicka’s case. In 2019, Washington Capitals’ Evgeny Kuznetsov was suspended for three games for inappropriate conduct, following his four-year ban from playing for Russia due to a positive test for cocaine. Kuznetsov faced scrutiny after a social media video showed him in proximity to white powder and American dollar bills during the world championships.
As the Coyotes take decisive action against Ruzicka’s off-ice behavior, the incident underscores the league’s commitment to upholding standards of conduct both on and off the ice.
