Feb. 24, 1:04 p.m.: Ružička cleared waivers Saturday, Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reports. The Coyotes will now terminate his contract. The NHLPA has 60 days to file a grievance on his behalf.
Feb. 23, 1:09 p.m.: In a statement Friday, the Coyotes confirmed they placed Ružička on unconditional waivers and will terminate his contract if he clears. The team declined to comment on the reasoning.
Feb. 23, 1:04 p.m.: Ružička is on waivers today, Chris Johnston of TSN and The Athletic confirms. Teams will have 24 hours to issue a claim for the remainder of his $762.5K cap hit deal, which expires this summer. If he passes through unclaimed, he will have his contract terminated by the Coyotes on Saturday.
Feb. 23, 12:41 p.m.: The Coyotes are expected to place forward Adam Ružička on waivers Friday for the purposes of contract termination, Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reports.
Friedman’s report comes hours after a screen recording began circulating on social media of Ružička’s Instagram story, which showed a video of him next to an unidentified white powdered substance. It is unclear if the video spurred the beginning of the termination process or if this is a mutual termination for Ružička to find other playing opportunities as a UFA.
In 2019, responding to an IIHF suspension handed down to Capitals center Evgeny Kuznetsov for a positive cocaine test, NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly confirmed that cocaine is “not a Prohibited Substance under the NHL/NHLPA Performance Enhancing Substances Program.” If the unidentified substance shown with Ružička is cocaine, and he has his contract terminated with Arizona as a result, he will likely not be subject to further discipline by the league based on precedent. Under league policy, cocaine is considered “a drug of abuse that is tested for and for which intervention, evaluation and mandatory treatment can occur in appropriate cases,” Daly said.
Ružička, 24, was claimed off waivers by the Coyotes from the Flames on Jan. 25. Work visa issues and multiple healthy scratches limited him to three appearances in Arizona, in which he recorded no points, a -1 rating, and one shot on goal while averaging 8:17 per game. A fourth-round pick of Calgary in 2017, Ružička has 14 goals, 26 assists, and 40 points in 117 NHL games since his debut in 2021.
Way to uh “blow” it, Adam, Enjoy Russia!
TDS
If he ends up in the KHL one day, He should be fine since he’s Slovakian.
Dube’s gone, Rozy is gone. I think the Flames dressing room is a lot happier now, and they are showing it.
Let’s wait for due process in the case of Dube.
I mean he’s at least gone for the foreseeable future
Blame RA
So much unknown in this saga; just wonder what are the responsibilities of the team & league in providing players who may need assistance in dealing with addiction or mental issues? Was it offered?
What are the responsibilities of the grown up hockey players?
I believe the Player Assistance Program covers that. It’s a joint operation between the league and the Players’ Association. In any case, we have no way of knowing for sure if that’s even what’s going on until an official statement is released by the player, team, or league.
That’s why they’re trying to do this fast, so he can’t ask for help into the player’s assistance program and still get paid while rehabilitating (I think that’s how it works…typing on the fly here so I’m not looking up Kuznetsov’s article)
Ružička, while he’ll be a UFA, is still part of the players’ association and can enter the assistance program. Alex Galchenyuk was in the program last summer after his termination by the Coyotes before leaving for Russia.
it is strange that he himself (or at least his instagram) leaked this. That would be two levels of stupid if what he’s accused of doing in the video is true AND He posted it.
That was my initial reaction too. Nose beers are not uncommon in hockey so that part wasn’t a surprise. But outing yourself on your own personal IG account?! Next level stupid!
Many reasons a guy might do this…How many times did anyone here drunkenly post something stupid only to regret it later and usually delete it. Also could be one of those drunken cry for helps that you hope someone takes notice of your pain and suffering. Not the right way to do it given the situation he’s in and the help offered but I’ve been there done that so I get it. Could actually think he’s that much of a baller doing coke and posting it. He did just come from my home province of Alberta where random rig workers will walk into a bar on their days off find the table of girls and dump a bag of cocaine on the table thinking to impress said girls. This is the mentality of some of those kinds of workers and perhaps that level of foolishness rubbed off on him. But we probably won’t know why he did what he did but there are reasons outside of he’s an idiot (well the last one I put is exactly that but I digress)
I have never drunkenly posted something on the internet. I’m not a moron.
I doubt his issue came from hanging out with Canadian oil rig workers. So stupid!
Lol okay you’re better than 95% of people. You know you could start a right wing extremist group get rid of all those idiots who have posted something stupid…wait your comment underneath undermines what you’ve just said lol try reading.
Is that what I said? That he hung out with rig workers? You just undermined that you’ve never posted something stupid. There’s a culture in Alberta that comes with money and it’s not good. If you misinterpreted that then you need to learn how to read. He was a part of the flames since being drafted so he’s been exposed to the toxicity of said culture. READ. I live in Alberta so please if you don’t stop commenting on something you know nothing about. As Homer Simpson says “eyes to big for your belly eh wolfy!”
I live in Calgary, the city HE played professionally for his brief cup of coffee in the league. And work in the bar and restaurant industry. NEVER have I seen a rigger walk in and toss a bag of coke on the table.
Maybe you are the one saying something stupid on the internet.
You really think that 95% of the population has posted video of themselves getting drunk? Even I have more positive view of humanity than that, lol!
Okay we’ll I have first hand witness stories of this happening and I myself though not on the rigs have worked 21-7 shifts 14-7 shifts as a plumber I know the snare of making money in this culture I’ve lived it so whether you’ve seen it or not it exists. As to others I never said I’ve posted videos of myself on social doing drugs but I’ve said stupid things, posted stupid things and have seen many others do the same. Maybe you guys are sheltered I don’t know but I am in the thick of this as one with an addiction so I sympathize with Ruzicka cause I understand the snare. Talk crap all you want humanity is not good it does no good and I’ve seen it and lived it before. If you haven’t that’s a blessed thing and be thankful for it but to come on here and call out one who’s not only seen it but lived it as being the “stupid” one is simply ignorant and shows the embarrassingly stupid stigma addiction still Carrie’s. Good for you all who’ve never had to deal with it I hope you never have to it’s a destroyer of life and friends and families and careers. Best of luck To Ruzicka if that’s what he’s dealing with he’s going to need it and to you all who sit on your pedestals think for a moment of those who aren’t privileged to have never had to suffer through that I have. Call me out all you want but I’m living that right now and I’ve sought help and I’ve tried it all. It’s a hard battle and if you think you’re above it beware for pride comes before destruction and a haughty spirit before the fall.
This long winded diatribe seems like it was done drunkenly.
24 years of age Adam has chosen…..poorly.
Yeah how dare he get caught up in the riches he’s making and make a poor choice at the mature old age of 24. Get real. Get off your pedestal bud. I’d love to see what you’d do with 800k at 24.
any news on the arena?
Yeah…there isn’t one…
You know I came back in here thinking maybe there’s be better people but no a bunch of f*ckin* idiots who don’t know what they’re talking about. I’d love to see all of you at 19 years old being good at a game make 800k and not get ensnared in something. No but it’s easy when you make 60k barely able to pay your mortgage sit down and scoff and some kid get caught doing cocaine. I owned my own place at 21 I made huge money plumbing and I lost it all to alcohol addiction. Anyone who wants tos coffee come at me I lost it at what 30 years old I should’ve known better and I made a tiny chunk of what these guys make and you think you’re better, smarter, more mature? STFU. You know nothing. Good get your 60 k you lying clowns. It’s embarrassing sure chirp if you want whatever be real and admit you’ve never had that money and power as a 24 year old and neither did I. 103k isn’t the same at 28 as 800 k is at 18. Stop judging you clowns. I can’t stand you judgemental idiots who think you’re above this I hope you or someone in your family struggles with addiction because then you’ll understand for once. It’s time to shut up you classless clowns but hey you’re upper middle class white men nothing bad happens to you eh?
I dont see anyone chirping the kid. I see a bunch of people saying he pissed his career away over the decision to post a video of him preparing to bust a couple rails. You are going overboard and getting snarky about it.
No one knows if this was a 1 time thing for Ruzzy or if he in fact does have an addiction. You are the one assuming it’s an addiction issue.
Good for you for beating your demons, but stop making it sound like you are better than the rest of us for it. You know no more about the Ruzicka situation than the rest of us and have to stop assuming it’s an addiction situation.
Well said Wreckage…
Hey I didn’t beat my addiction issues I fight every day so I apologize for being a bit hot to trot man but it’s one of the most frustrating things. I overreacted and I do apologize but it hurts to lose everything and everyone and yes 100% it’s my fault I do not place the blame anywhere but me but it’s hard man. That’s all I want to say I’ve made enough of an a** of myself.
Thank you for sharing and a lot of us can relate including me. But we also don’t have the resources like these guys. It was just pure young stupidity
Very well could’ve been. Again to everyone here I apologize. Just so everyone knows I have sought much help and I just can’t do it. Been to 3 rehabs. It’s not for lack of trying and I’m very angry inside because of it and I took it out on this community of hockey fans and I’m utterly ashamed and sorry for acting a fool. I hope everyone here will forgive me for being an idiot. I apologize and hope everyone is having a good day. Again I’m sorry.
Don’t need to be sorry. Just keep at it…
It’s a life long battle, but don’t stop trying.
Andre Nickatina