The Arizona Coyotes announced Thursday that they plan to cut forward Alex Galchenyuk less than two weeks after welcoming him back to the team for a third time.
The NHL Players’ Association said it is “reviewing this matter.”
The Coyotes said they were placing Galchenyuk on unconditional waivers for the purpose of terminating his contract and would have no further comment. But ESPN is reporting that the Coyotes learned of an “off-ice situation impacting Galchenyuk that was previously unknown to the team.”
Galchenyuk, 29, drafted no. 3 overall in 2012 by the Montreal Canadiens, signed a one-year, two-way contract on July 1 that would pay him $775,000 in the NHL and $225,000 in the American Hockey League.
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He previously played for the Coyotes in the 2018-19 and the 2021-22 seasons.
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, would become an unrestricted free agent after his contract is terminated.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Arizona Coyotes to cut Alex Galchenyuk two weeks after signing him