Boom Boom Apathy
I am the Professor. Deal with it!
- Sep 6, 2006
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Your basic premise is absolutely correct. But it goes a little deeper.
The NHL is a big business and all their decisions factor “selling the brand” into the equation. At the end of the day the NHL saves money, and ostensibly fans, by making significant negative publicity that can be easily silenced just go away. No one, big or important enough, is going to cry for Leipsic to change that equation. And the money is significantly on the side of making this go away as easily as possible which is what the Capitals and the League have done. And, yes, both parties - the Capitals and the League - are in the fortunate position of having the weight of resources and righteous morality (for what it’s worth) on their side.
Listen, I get it some people want to mitigate (not necessarily justify) Leipsic’s comments because, at some point, we’ve all said things we regret. The fact is, most people have the god-given good sense to know not to make those comments in a setting that can become public (any social media platform can become public, deal with it and behave appropriately). If those comments potentially jeopardize your employment, which is a privilege, not a right, then making those comments en masse is just doubling down on stupid.
Yep.
It's also probably in Leipsic's best interest to not bring legal proceedings because what would he gain? From my understanding, the Caps owed him no more money so he can't claim loss of pay, unless of course the NHL comes back and he would get playoff money. His contract is up this year so he there was no financial obligation between the Caps and Leipsic next season so there really is no grounds for compensatory damages. The Caps didn't do anything to prevent him from signing elsewhere next year. If teams don't want to sign him, it's because of what was leaked, not because of the Caps reaction to it so he'd have a tough time suing the Caps for general (pain and suffering, mental anguish) damages or punitive damages since the Caps didn't cause any of that. On top of that, there's the morality clause he'd have to deal with.
Leipsic's best bet at ever getting another shot in the NHL is to be humble, stay out of the limelight and try to rebuild his image as best as he can. Might not be enough, but suing won't likely get him anything financially and wouldn't help getting another shot either.