Arrest warrant issued for ex-NHLer Andre Deveaux after on-ice attack

Prosecutors in Sweden have issued an arrest warrant for former NHL player Andre Deveaux after he attacked an opposing player on the ice before a game last week.

Prosecutors in Sweden have issued an arrest warrant for former NHL player Andre Deveaux after he attacked an opposing player on the ice before a game last week, Reuters reports. Deveaux was released from his contract on Monday.

During warmups before a game last Thursday, Deveaux charged at an opponent from behind, slashed him in the knees with his stick and tackled him to the ice. Video of the incident surfaced Sunday.

Prosecutors saw the footage and decided to issue the warrant, according to Reuters.

Deveaux's team, Rogle BK, was playing VIK Vasteras HK in a playoff series to determine which team would be promoted to Sweden's top division. No penalty was issued, according to the box score. The incident occurred during the fourth game of the seven-game series, but the video did not surface until after the start of the decisive fifth game, according to Swedish media reports. ​

Vasteras captain Per Helmersson was the victim of the attack, reportedly as revenge for a hit Helmersson levied on Deveaux in the previous game.

Helmersson was able to play in both games after the attack, but Deveaux's team won and earned promotion to the country's top division. 

Deveaux was unapologetic after the video initially surfaced. "How bad was it?" Deveaux said, according to Viasat Hockey. "He played the game and he played today."

"My intent was never to inflict any serious injury and given that I'm a much bigger person than Per Helmersson it is clear that if the damage has been my intention, he had not been able to play the game or the next," Deveaux said in a statement after he was released.

Deveaux, 31, played 31 games for the Toronto Maple Leafs and New York Rangers between 2008 and 2011.

- Dan Gartland