Adam Ružička Waived by Coyotes After Instagram Video Appeared to Show White Powder

The Arizona Coyotes have placed forward Adam Ružička on unconditional waivers for the purpose of terminating his contract, the organization announced Friday.

The move comes after Ružička posted a video of himself to Instagram with a white powder appearing to be cocaine and a credit card on a counter, according to the Associated Press (h/t ESPN).

Ružička had appeared in just three games for the Coyotes after being claimed off waivers from the Calgary Flames last month. He didn't record a single point.

The 24-year-old Slovakian was selected by the Flames in the fourth round of the 2017 draft and made his NHL debut during the 2020-21 season. In 114 games across three-and-a-half seasons with the Flames, he posted 14 goals and 26 assists for 40 points.

Ružička was due to become a free agent this summer after signing a two-year, $1.5 million deal with the Flames in September 2022.

Ružička is the second NHL player to have his contract terminated this year, joining Corey Perry, who had his contract with the Chicago Blackhawks terminated in November after the franchise said he violated workplace policy.

Perry has since returned to the ice, signing a deal and suiting up for the Edmonton Oilers.

It's possible Ružička could face further punishment from the NHL, such as a suspension, for his actions.

The league previously suspended Washington Capitals forward Evgeny Kuznetsov three games in 2019 for "inappropriate conduct." The suspension came after the International Ice Hockey Federation suspended him from international competition with Russia for four years following a positive cocaine test in August 2019.

Kuznetsov was also captured on a video published in May 2019 sitting by two lines of white powder. He denied ever using drugs while speaking with Russian outlet Sport-Express (h/t the Washington Post) and said the video was from 2018.

The NHL investigated the incident and "found no basis to question his representations with respect to what did—and what did not occur."