The Arizona Coyotes terminated Alex Galchenyuk’s contract Friday after his arrest on multiple charges last weekend.
Police in Scottsdale, Ariz., arrested him Sunday on charges of private property hit and run, disorderly conduct, failure to obey, resisting arrest and threatening or intimidating, per multiple reports. No injuries were reported in the incident.
New details emerged later Friday, as a police report from the incident alleged that Galchenyuk threatened to have two officers killed and directed a racial slur toward one of the officers several times.
The report alleged that Galchenyuk cited connections in Russia and said, “One phone call and you’re all dead, your whole family, your whole blood line is dead.”
A witness told police that Galchenyuk was the driver of a car that had crashed into a street sign. He was found lying on the ground near the car and was eventually helped back to the car by a passenger, later identified as Galchenyuk’s father.
Galchenyuk, 29, was booked in the Scottsdale city jail on misdemeanor charges Sunday and released the following day on his own recognizance.
“We are aware of the incident involving Alex Galchenyuk and strongly condemn this type of behavior,” the team said in a statement Friday. “Once the Club was made aware of the allegations, we immediately began the process of terminating his Standard Player’s Contract through the proper channels in conjunction with the National Hockey League.
“As a result, the Arizona Coyotes today have exercised the team’s right to terminate the contract of Alex Galchenyuk due to a material breach of the terms of his Standard Player’s Contract. The Club will have no further comment at this time.”
The Coyotes placed Galchenyuk on unconditional waivers Thursday. The NHLPA told ESPN it will review Arizona’s decision on behalf of Galchenyuk, who once again becomes an unrestricted free agent.
Galchenyuk signed a one-year, $775,000 deal on the first day of free agency on July 1. He previously played for the Coyotes in 2018-19 and 2021-22.
The No. 3 overall pick in the 2012 draft by Montreal, Galchenyuk registered no points in 11 games last season with the Colorado Avalanche. He has 354 points (146 goals, 208 assists) in 654 games with seven teams.
–Field Level Media
