This one goes far beyond what any 10-minute unsportsmanlike conduct penalty would be handed out for.
Former Toronto Maple Leafs forward Alex Galchenyuk went on verbal tirade when arrested by two Scottsdale, Ariz., police officers earlier this year, which included several slurs and death threats against the officers and their families.
The entire rant was captured on the officers’ bodycam footage, which was recently released.
Galchenyuk, who had recently signed as a free agent with the Arizona Coyotes, was in a car with his father when it was pulled over by the police officers.
Galchenyuk was sitting in the passenger seat of the car and found bleeding from his face. The officers said he was heavily impaired.
During the initial stop, Galchenyuk asked how long the officer has been on the force, to which he replied eight years. Galchenyuk responded with: “You understand I’ll chop all of you ****, right?”
“What did you say?” the officer then asked.
“You heard me,” Galchenyuk said.
WARNING: Video contains strong language
Galchenyuk is seen in the video reaching under his seat, which prompted the police to call for backup before removing the NHLer from the car and handcuffing him on the ground.
After being put in the back of the police cruiser, the U.S.-born Russian didn’t slow down with the threats and slurs.
“You know the Russians will make bolognese out of you, n****r,” Galchenyuk said in the video to the African-American officer.
“One f***ing phone call and you’ll never see your family and how scary is that?” he continued. “Holy f***, one phone call and you’re dead. Your whole f***ing bloodline is dead.”
He continued: “All your f***ing kids all your f***ing wives all your f***ing daughters will f***ing die. I’ll make sure of that.”
The police had first been alerted to the situation when witnesses reported Galchenyuk driving erratically and crashed into a parking lot sign and then a parked car.
According to the police report, witnesses said Galchenyuk was then seen lying on the ground when another man, who was later identified as Galchenyuk’s father, picked him up, got him in the car, then drove off.
Galchenyuk was arrested on charges of private property hit-and-run, disorderly conduct, failure to obey, resisting arrest and threatening or intimidating, police said.
He later pleaded guilty to one count of threatening and the other charges were dismissed. He was ordered to spend two days in jail, complete an alcohol treatment program in exchange for not getting more jail time, and pay a fine of $563.
The Coyotes immediately released Galchenyuk from his contract and he later signed with SKA Saint Petersburg of the KHL.
For a player that has had many chances as the former first-round pick has, we don’t expect him to be back in North America any time soon.