The Arizona Coyotes have taken action to terminate forward Adam Ruzicka's contract after a social media video emerged showing him with a white substance suspected to be cocaine. Ruzicka, 24, has been placed on unconditional waivers by the team in an effort to end his contract, which is in its second season of a two-year term worth $1.525 million. The forward, who joined the Coyotes just a month ago, has played in three games with Arizona, failing to register any points, after playing 39 games with the Calgary Flames.

Ruzicka becomes the second player in the league this season to face contract termination after Corey Perry of the Chicago Blackhawks for violating team workplace policies. Notably, the NHL Players' Association is seeking an extension for Perry to file a grievance over the termination. In the past, the NHL has enforced punishments for off-ice conduct, as seen with Washington's Evgeny Kuznetsov who was suspended for three games in 2019 for "inappropriate conduct" following a social media video linking him to white powder and dollar bills.

The Coyotes have refrained from providing further comments on Ruzicka's situation at this time. The team claimed Ruzicka off waivers from the Calgary Flames in January 2024, and he has played a total of 117 NHL games since his debut in April 2021. The termination of Ruzicka's contract highlights the league's approach to enforcing player conduct standards both on and off the ice.