Perhaps no one in the sports world came away from yesterday looking worse than Capitals forward Brendan Leipsic. The 25-year-old Leipsic found himself in some trouble with his team and league after screenshots of a group chat he was involved in were leaked and posted online, revealing “misogynistic and reprehensible” comments made by the Capitals player. Panthers minor leaguer Jack Rodewald was also involved in the group chat.

Here’s what you need to know:

• The screenshots showed numerous messages that sought to degrade and demean various women, including pregnant women and girlfriends/wives of former teammates
• Among the players whose partners were insulted by Leipsic include Auston Matthews of the Maple Leafs and Tanner Pearson of the Canucks
• Leipsic also sent messages disparaging several current and former teammates, including calling his Washington linemates “losers”
• Leipsic deleted his Instagram account on Wednesday afternoon
• NHL official statement: “The National Hockey League strongly condemns the misogynistic and reprehensible remarks made by players Brendan Leipsic and Jack Rodewald in a private group chat that has surfaced on social media. There is no place in our League for such statements, attitudes and behavior, no matter the forum. We will address this inexcusable conduct with the clubs and players involved.”
• Leipsic: “Yesterday my friend’s Instagram account was hacked and an individual circulated images that are representative of private conversations I was a part of,” Leipsic said. “I fully recognize how inappropriate and offensive these comments are and sincerely apologize to everyone for my actions. I am committed to learning from this and becoming a better person by taking time to determine how to move forward in an accountable, meaningful way. I am truly sorry.”

Sometimes you feel for a public figure when their private conversations are exposed — I mean, at one point or another we’ve probably all said things in private that we’d be ashamed or embarrassed about if they were to be made public — but there should be no real sympathy for Leipsic and Rodewald here. Maybe it’d be one thing if it was a few questionable comments, but the high volume of gross and offensive remarks exposed yesterday should shine a light on their character and the pattern of problematic behavior.

It’s the kind of thing that might make it a little easier to understand why Leipsic has been a part of five different organizations over the last five years. He certainly doesn’t exactly seem like a great guy to have in the locker room and we’ll see if the Capitals decide to become the latest team to cut ties with him. I mean, would you want to go to work with a replacement level colleague after finding out he hurls insults at you and your loved ones behind your back? I’m guessing probably not.