Home / News / 75 percent of Capitals fans want Brendan Leipsic released, according to 106.7 The Fan poll

75 percent of Capitals fans want Brendan Leipsic released, according to 106.7 The Fan poll

By Ian Oland

 3 Comments

May 7, 2020 7:57 pm

Brendan Leipsic was condemned by both the NHL and the Washington Capitals Wednesday night after leaked screenshots showed vile and misogynistic comments he made in an Instagram group chat with friends. Leipsic deleted his Instagram and released an apology on Twitter later in the night.

According to the Capitals’ radio partner, 106.7 The Fan, 75.9 percent of fans said Leipsic should be released by the team in a poll.

The Sports Junkies spoke about Leipsic’s comments this morning and said the fourth-line forward should be cut immediately.

“Well he can’t play here. The boys can’t trust him,” Eric Bickel said. “He’s violated all trust. That guy’s cancer in the locker room. It’s over.”

“He should be released today,” Jason Bishop said. “He’s just an idiot. How stupid can you be?”

The Washington Post’s Barry Svrluga wrote in a column that Leipsic is “[s]omeone who doesn’t belong in the NHL” while the USA Today’s Hemal Jhaveri believed that Leipsic “should quickly be on his way to irrelevancy.”

Not only did Leipsic make misogynistic comments about women, but he also called his linemates, Garnet Hathaway and Nic Dowd, “losers” and chastized Tom Wilson for getting a dog with his girlfriend Taylor Pischke.

Fans expecting swift action could be left wanting. The Capitals said they will handle Leipsic’s comments “internally.”

Svrluga reported that the Caps were discussing what to do with Leipsic at all levels of the organization Thursday morning.

The Athletic’s Tarik El-Bashir added that Leipsic and general manager Brian MacLellan will have a face-to-face meeting when the team reconvenes, which could mean Leipsic remains at least until camps re-open.

Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan spoke to Leipsic by phone on Wednesday, a team source said. The two will have a face-to-face meeting when the team reconvenes to discuss the matter further, the source added.

Sportnet’s Elliotte Friedman wrote about Leipsic’s comments in his latest 31 Thoughts column and said the Capitals forward will be “facing discipline” from the NHL.

It’s early in the process, but it stood out that the NHL’s statement about Brendan Leipsic’s leaked Instagram comments also mentioned Jack Rodewald, another member of the message group. I’m not sure anyone expected that, but it shows the Florida prospect is also facing discipline.

The NHL promised to “address this inexcusable conduct with the clubs and players involved” in a release, but it’s unclear what that discipline could be and if and when it will be announced.

Headline photo: Elizabeth Kong/RMNB