Story by
Alex Galchenyuk made threats during arrest, police say of former Coyotes player
- Story by
- Alex Galchenyuk made threats during arrest, police say of former Coyotes player
Forward Alex Galchenyuk , whose recently signed contract was terminated by the Arizona Coyotes on Friday because of an arrest, had been spotted lying on the ground in a parking lot near a broken sign and made threats before and after he was taken into custody, according to a Scottsdale, Arizona, police report obtained by USA TODAY Sports.
Police were responding on July 9 to a report of a car hitting the curb, a sign and an SUV and saw a man on the ground that they later identified as the hockey player. An older man, later identified as Galchenyuk's father, helped him off the ground and got into the drivers' seat of a white BMW while Galchenyuk was in the passenger seat, police said.
Advertisement
The father drove off and police pulled over the car and talked to the younger Galchenyuk. Police said he alternated between being calm and agitated and one officer quoted him as saying, "You understand, I will chop all of you (expletives)." They said he reached under the seat. The forward was then handcuffed and taken into custody.
While Galchenyuk was in the back seat of the cruiser, police said he made several threatening statements, including, "I will kill your wife, your daughters, and call Moscow and have their livers removed."
Alex Galchenyuk, cut by the Coyotes, has issued an apology.
FLYERS: Team 'completely embarrassed' by hot mic incident
Advertisement
OFFSEASON TRACKER: News and analysis on signings and trades
Galchenyuk was booked on charges of hit and run, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, threats and failure to obey an officer. His father later told police he was the one who had hit the sign, but the person who made the original call to police gave police a description that fit the younger Galchenyuk.
According to The Athletic, he was released on recognizance the next day.
Galchenyuk had signed with the Coyotes on July 1, the opening day of free agency, for what would have been his third stint with the team.
The Coyotes announced Thursday that they were placing him on unconditional waivers in order to terminate his contract. They did that on Friday when he passed through waivers.
Advertisement
"We are aware of the incident involving Alex Galchenyuk and strongly condemn this type of behavior," the Coyotes 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 NHL Players' Association said it is "reviewing this matter."
Galchenyuk, 29, drafted No. 3 overall in 2012 by the Montreal Canadiens , signed a one-year, two-way contract that would pay him $775,000 in the NHL and $225,000 in the American Hockey League.
He previously played for the Coyotes in the 2018-19 and the 2021-22 seasons.
Advertisement
Last season, he played 11 games with the Colorado Avalanche and 42 for their AHL affiliate. The Avalanche traded him to Nashville for Ryan Johansen , and the Predators allowed him to go to free agency.
Galchenyuk, who has 354 points in 654 career games, is now an unrestricted free agent.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Alex Galchenyuk made threats during arrest, police say
