Nigel Dawes went on to have a great career in the KHL. I have no doubt he could have made a team better here, as a third line energy player who could chip in offensively. Was he never offered a contract league wide, and how does that happen?
Josh Ho-Sang is a legitimate prospect, and has all kinds of upside. The Islanders pushed him to the AHL, and eventually completely out of the league. Hearing the guy speak (through articles mainly) he had a vocal positive belief in his ability. He didn't say anything wrong, he just didn't bow to ownership the way that players were expected. His rights still remain with the Isle, and I'm sure they will bury him. It makes me question the Islanders more than question Ho-Sang.
Evander Kane wasn't a team player. Byfuglien said as much, that it wasn't a race thing, it was a Kane thing. I think that he just needed some time to become a man and he will be fine, and probably look back at himself and shake his head a little.
Duclair acted as his own agent. There's a reason why no one does that. Does that mean that this has nothing to do with race? No. NHL (and pro sports as a whole) is an old boys club. I don't trust generationally rich folks to automatically do the right thing, I think that they grow up isolated from reality. But Duclair put himself in a really bad position here. I don't know what happened in that negotiation room.
There are definitely questions to be asked about the culture of certain NHL clubs.
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"By Grabthar's hammer ... what a savings."
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