by Putin grants Russian citizenship to controversial ex-Leaf Leipsic
Former NHLer Brendan Leipsic, who had a cup of coffee with the Maple Leafs and stirred up controversy elsewhere, has reportedly been granted Russian citizenship.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin granted citizenship to Winnipeg-born Leipsic and U.S. boxer Kevin Johnson under a decree published on a Russian government website on Tuesday, Reuters and other outlets reported.
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Leipsic, who signed a two-year deal last June with SKA Saint Petersburg, has bounced around the KHL since 2020. He landed in the Russian league after effectively being booted from the NHL after making misogynist comments and inappropriate remarks about other players on a social-media group chat that was made public.
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The 29-year-old forward was placed on unconditional waivers by the Washington Capitals in 2020 “for the purposes of terminating his contract.”
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Leipsic was selected in the third round of the 2012 NHL draft by the Nashville Predators.
He was the Western Hockey League’s top scorer in 2012-13 and was acquired by the Leafs in 2015. In Toronto, he was tapped for six games with the big club, but spent the bulk of three seasons with the American Hockey League’s Marlies.
Leipsic’s other NHL stops included the Vegas Golden Knights, Vancouver Canucks and Los Angeles Kings before the death knell on his NHL career sounded in D.C.
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In July, Russian media reported that Leipsic had written to Putin asking for citizenship.
Russian newspaper Izvestia reported in September that heavyweight boxer Johnson asked Putin for Russian citizenship, shortly after Johnson adopted the Russian-style patronymic Vladimirovich — a decision he said he took in honour of the Russian leader.
Russia has given citizenship to some western celebrities who have requested it and publicly spoken out in support of Russia, including U.S. actor Steven Seagal and French actor Gerard Depardieu.
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