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The Coyotes have waived center Adam Ruzicka hours after a video was posted to social media that appeared to show the NHL player in a room with a white powdery substance.

The video, which was purportedly posted to Ruzicka’s Instagram story, had an American Express credit card on a plate that seemingly included a line of the substance.

“The Arizona Coyotes have placed forward Adam Ruzicka on unconditional waivers for purposes of terminating his contract,” the Coyotes said in a statement. “The Club will have no further comment at this time.”


  Adam Ruzicka #83 of the Arizona Coyotes poses for his official NHL headshot prior to a game against the Vegas Golden Knights at Mullett Arena on February 08, 2024 in Tempe, Arizona. NHLI via Getty Images Adam Ruzicka #83 of the Arizona Coyotes poses for his official NHL headshot prior to a game against the Vegas Golden Knights at Mullett Arena on February 08, 2024 in Tempe, Arizona. NHLI via Getty Images

At the end of the video, an individual seeming to be Ruzicka put what appeared to be a vial in his mouth.

The Post has reached out to his agency, Newports Sports Management, for comment.

Ruzicka has appeared in three games for the Coyotes this season.

He was picked up by Phoenix after he was waived by the Flames, the team that picked him in the fourth round of the 2017 NHL Draft, last month.

The 24-year-old Slovak has three goals and nine points on the season split between the two teams.

He is in the second year of a two-year $1,525,000 deal signed with the Flames.

Ruzicka is the second player in the league this season to have his contract terminated, following Corey Perry with Chicago Blackhawks after they said the veteran winger violated team workplace policy.


  Adam Ruzicka #83 of the Arizona Coyotes skates against the Philadelphia Flyers at the Wells Fargo Center on February 12, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Flyers went on to defeat the Coyotes 5-3. NHLI via Getty Images Adam Ruzicka #83 of the Arizona Coyotes skates against the Philadelphia Flyers at the Wells Fargo Center on February 12, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Flyers went on to defeat the Coyotes 5-3. NHLI via Getty Images

The NHL Players’ Association asked for and was granted an extension of the window for Perry to file a grievance, and he’s back playing with Edmonton.

There is precedent for the NHL to punish players for off-ice conduct such as Ruzicka’s.

Washington’s Evgeny Kuznetsov was suspended three games in 2019 for “inappropriate conduct,” less than a month after he was banned from playing for Russia for four years because of a positive test for cocaine.

Kuznetsov faced allegations of drug use at the world championships that year after a video posted on social media showed him near a table with lines of white powder and American dollar bills.

— With AP

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