Sens leadership calls leaked Uber video a 'hiccup'
Warning: Video in the story contains strong language
Ottawa Senators veterans say the team has dealt with the players who were caught on video complaining about their team and coach and they're ready to move on.
Seven Senators players apologized late Monday night after Postmedia published a story with a video of them criticizing their team and coach Martin Raymond in a conversation in front of an Uber driver in Phoenix, Ariz., last week.
None of those players spoke to the media after morning skate Tuesday.
Instead, it was up to long-time Senators such as Mark Stone and Craig Anderson to face the first questions about the incident from reporters.
"This is a hiccup," Stone said, adding the team found out about the existence of the video a few days ago. "Guys have made great efforts to repair relationships. This is only going to make our team stronger."
"[The players] support each other," Anderson said.
Head coach Guy Boucher said the team has dealt with the issue and has moved on.
"I don't know who makes decisions to put those things out there but when you purposefully try to hurt another human being, I don't want to spend too much time on that," he said.
"Especially probably the best human I know."
The Senators host New Jersey tonight.
Senators players were caught trash-talking their team on a video recording➡️<a href="https://t.co/6zZIWHmY69">https://t.co/6zZIWHmY69</a> Now that it has been publicly shared, who do YOU think made the worst move in this situation?
—@hockeynightLegal questions
An Arizona media law expert said in an email there are a few legal questions at play.
Joseph Russomanno, an associate professor at Arizona State University's Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication, said federal and state laws — including Arizona's — permit broadcasting conversations under certain circumstances.
He said there are arguments at least one person involved (the driver) knew about the recording, which could meet one legal threshold.
Other factors include whether there was a reasonable expectation of privacy given they were in a ride-hailing vehicle and whether the information shared is of the public interest.
An Uber general manager said filming a private conversation without passenger consent is a clear violation of its terms of service.
Uber worked to get the video removed, said a spokesperson in an email, without addressing question's about Uber's camera rules in Phoenix and whether the driver is facing discipline.
"It was a private conversation, I feel terrible for the guys in the video and especially [Raymond]. It's not fair to any of them," said Senators forward Zack Smith.
"If you took a camera, followed me around in my hockey career and recorded everything I said about coaches I don't think I'd be in the league, I'd have a lot of people mad at me."