Speculation: 2023-24-25 Sharks Roster Discussion

[Hodge]

This is just fundamentally wrong to me.

Doesn't change the fact that it's an open secret the vast majority of NHL players partake in that stuff, Ružička was just dumb enough to film himself doing it.

 

[Gecklund]

Doesn't change the fact that it's an open secret the vast majority of NHL players partake in that stuff, Ružička was just dumb enough to film himself doing it.

But it wasn’t just that he filmed himself doing it. It’s that he posted it on his social media.

 

[Juxtaposer]

But it wasn’t just that he filmed himself doing it. It’s that he posted it on his social media.

So the moral failing was that he posted it?

I genuinely don’t care what a player does in his spare time, so long as he isn’t hurting other people with his behavior.

 

[Gecklund]

So the moral failing was that he posted it?

I genuinely don’t care what a player does in his spare time, so long as he isn’t hurting other people with his behavior.

The moral failing is that he’s doing something that has hurt tons of people. This is insane that so many people are so nonchalant about a player doing cocaine publicly like this.

This is also insane that yall are wanting to give him a chance instantly instead of letting him get help first.

 

[Hodge]

Also these guys sustain repeated physical injuries for our entertainment. I'm not saying the main reason they use illicit drugs is as a painkiller but I'm sure it's part of it.

 

[Juxtaposer]

The moral failing is that he’s doing something that has hurt tons of people. This is insane that so many people are so nonchalant about a player doing cocaine publicly like this.

This is also insane that yall are wanting to give him a chance instantly instead of letting him get help first.

Except that the only person he’s hurting is himself. That makes it a personal problem rather than an ethical problem. Obviously drugs are a greater societal issue, but unless the guy is like, threatening other people into doing it with him or selling it to minors, it’s a personal problem. I hope that if it’s anything more than casual, social use, he gets some help. But not because it’s morally or ethically wrong.

 

[Gecklund]

Except that the only person he’s hurting is himself. That makes it a personal problem rather than an ethical problem. Obviously drugs are a greater societal issue, but unless the guy is like, threatening other people into doing it with him or selling it to minors, it’s a personal problem. I hope that if it’s anything more than casual, social use, he gets some help. But not because it’s morally or ethically wrong.

I guess we just fundamentally disagree on the issue then. Gonna leave it at that.

 

[coooldude]

Except that the only person he’s hurting is himself. That makes it a personal problem rather than an ethical problem. Obviously drugs are a greater societal issue, but unless the guy is like, threatening other people into doing it with him or selling it to minors, it’s a personal problem. I hope that if it’s anything more than casual, social use, he gets some help. But not because it’s morally or ethically wrong.

I generally agree. The problem with the coke + posting about it is less a moral failing and more just a discipline/decision-making failing. You're a professional -- you should know better, and if you're making that decision, are you making the right decision about, say, how much sleep you're getting and what you're putting into your body for nutrition?

I don't doubt that a lot of these guys get into some party drugs (many functioning adults do) but the ones who are successful AND do that, likely are pretty disciplined about when and where. The Nichushkin's of the world may be able to fake it for a long time but it'll catch up to them.

When you're a bubble AHLer, it's not a good look that you're doing coke let alone posting it on social media, just from a professionalism POV.

 

[hohosaregood]

I'd say it's just not professional and really really dumb to post it online. But it depends on what you think it means to be a pro athlete. To some people, a pro athlete also needs to stand as a role model to kids (never meet your heroes btw), to others it's just performing when they're on the field.

I don't explicitly have an issue with these guys snorting coke since it seems like it's one of the "tamer" rich white guy drugs but just don't do it for the world to see.

 

[ThePlanet]

Seriously, the guy was just having a good time. Insane to post that video to social media but it seems reasonable to assume he was high out of his mind when he did it. If anything he might need a stint in the player assistance program. Typical cheap ass Coyotes move to just immediately terminate the contract like that.

Are you implying that you wouldn't have immediately terminated Galchenyuk's contract if you were the GM?

 

[Juxtaposer]

I guess we just fundamentally disagree on the issue then. Gonna leave it at that.

Fair enough.

I generally agree. The problem with the coke + posting about it is less a moral failing and more just a discipline/decision-making failing. You're a professional -- you should know better, and if you're making that decision, are you making the right decision about, say, how much sleep you're getting and what you're putting into your body for nutrition?

I don't doubt that a lot of these guys get into some party drugs (many functioning adults do) but the ones who are successful AND do that, likely are pretty disciplined about when and where. The Nichushkin's of the world may be able to fake it for a long time but it'll catch up to them.

When you're a bubble AHLer, it's not a good look that you're doing coke let alone posting it on social media, just from a professionalism POV.

Totally agreed, posting it was stupid, and a very poor decision that doesn’t bode well for his future employment. And I don’t exactly think that the Coyotes made the wrong decision. I’m just disagreeing with the idea that a guy who does coke is morally bankrupt and I don’t think he deserves to be lumped into the same group as, without naming names, other players who have recently been in legal trouble.

 

[Hodge]

Are you implying that you wouldn't have immediately terminated Galchenyuk's contract if you were the GM?

Galchenyuk was charged with a crime. As far as I know, Ružička hasn't been.

 

[CupfortheSharks]

It’s clear to me that some of the posters here don’t have any first hand experience with coke. It would extremely foolish to bring a known user into any locker room.

 

[coooldude]

It’s clear to me that some of the posters here don’t have any first hand experience with coke. It would extremely foolish to bring a known user into any locker room.

Oof, the realities of pro sports locker rooms might make you blush.

 

[CupfortheSharks]

Oof, the realities of pro sports locker rooms might make you blush.

Please. You don’t know me but I doubt it.

 

[ThePlanet]

Galchenyuk was charged with a crime. As far as I know, Ružička hasn't been.

When you call something typical, that means you look at prior incidents that set precedent. In this case, that's Galchenyuk.

Beyond that, cocaine is listed as a Schedule II narcotic. So while charges may not have been filed at this point, it is clearly criminal behavior.

 

[coooldude]

Please. You don’t know me but I doubt it.

We don't know each other.

My point is that there are absolutely known users of illegal narcotics in the NHL, and perfectly legal drugs like booze. Some of them probably indulge in a relatively controlled way, and some of them get out of control and either ruin their career or enter the player assistance program. But to say "it would be extremely foolish to bring a known user into a locker room" is overstating it.

 

[Cas]

I do think this is more indicative of a lack of discipline and makes me disinclined to take any sort of risk for a bubble guy by signing him. The upside just isn't worth the risk that he does something else stupid.

Maybe, under certain circumstances, an AHL deal as a sort of probationary period. I don't know that's worth it for him either.

 

[Jargon]

He can do all the coke he wants, I just don’t imagine a world where Grier would bring him here after that post. I also just think we should err on getting good role models for our up and coming prospects rather than Mr. I Did SO Much Coke I Lost All Ability to Make Reasonable Decisions.

 

[jMoneyBrah]

It’s clear to me that some of the posters here don’t have any first hand experience with coke. It would extremely foolish to bring a known user into any locker room.

What’s a coke user? Someone who has a bump in a social situation? Or someone who has a dealer and uses on a monthly basis? Weekly? Daily?

It was a long time ago, but I was once a 20 year old and enough of a degenerate to be around coke and many other things. It may be shocking to some, but some people are capable of tinkering things like this without it otherwise effecting their life. For others it could be the first step to a downward spiral with a sad sad bottom.

I’m not saying that’s Ružička. No one commenting here could know either way. This I will say: I hope the Sharks don’t bring him in. Not because of any moral failing. If coke use was the razor which to exclude players, that would eliminate some unknowable large portion of the NHL. Let’s be reality.

The failing here is of basic intelligence or a minimal level of professionalism. What kind of absolute moron thinks to post their coke use to social media; and not even like it was accidentally in the background, but literally the whole point of the video. He either didn’t understand there would be blowback (stupid moron) or did know and did it anyway (unprofessional moron). In either case that would be a disqualifier if I was building a team.

 

[Gecklund]

Fair enough.


Totally agreed, posting it was stupid, and a very poor decision that doesn’t bode well for his future employment. And I don’t exactly think that the Coyotes made the wrong decision. I’m just disagreeing with the idea that a guy who does coke is morally bankrupt and I don’t think he deserves to be lumped into the same group as, without naming names, other players who have recently been in legal trouble.

I don't think anyone has been arguing this though.

 

[CupfortheSharks]

It may be shocking to some, but some people are capable of tinkering things like this without it otherwise effecting their life. For others it could be the first step to a downward spiral with a sad sad bottom.

Not shocking to me. I agree completely. Coke is much more addictive than alcohol or weed. The downward spiral is faster and harder. It’s much better for anyone that they never try it to find out where it takes them. Why would you bring in a guy who has started down that spiral to be around a bunch of youngsters with too much money to spend? Yes, they can get anything they want without him around but it’s foolish to put temptation closer.

 

[OrrNumber4]

The drug issue is just a personal issue that should not affect his play. Letting it leak points to him being unprofessional.

Best case scenario, he develops into a decent NHL talent and matures. Worst case, he stays a tweener and is a problem player. Not worth taking a flyer on him

 

[Groo]

Also these guys sustain repeated physical injuries for our entertainment. I'm not saying the main reason they use illicit drugs is as a painkiller but I'm sure it's part of it.

It's a numbing agent. If directly applied. Maybe he took a puck to the nose

People who are using blow these days take a real Rick with it being cut with fentanyl

 

[OrrNumber4]

Getting back on topic, is it fair to say that next season, barring trades, the Sharks will have at least 4 NHL-caliber defensemen on the roster? Ruuta, Benning, Emberson, and Okhotiuk....or am I selling them too highly?