So, I've been listening to podcasts at work all day. I highly recommend Steve Dangle's from October 27 (he was supposed to release another today with Rick Westhead, but I haven't had time to listen yet).
A few thoughts, some of which I've expressed, some of which occurred to me after others have mentioned them:
Who failed in this: Absolutely everyone.
The NHL, in refusing to investigate this, in continuing to kind of sweep things like this under the rug; after Fleury, after Kennedy, after Aliu, and after who knows how many more?
Gary Bettman, in failing to immediately tell Joel Quenneville and Kevin Chevaldayoff they were on leave until he talked to them. For actually allowing a game where Joel Quenneville coached 3 hours after this came public. Absolutely terrible.
The Florida Panthers, for not doing the same thing with Quenneville - place him on leave until you figure out what's going to happen. And then not having him available for the media after the game was absolutely cowardly on all their parts.
The Winnipeg Jets, for doing the same to Kevin Cheveldayoff - you let him represent your team.
The fact that Bettman "forced" Quenneville to resign rather than be fired, and then didn't do the same to Chevy. Yes, I read his "account." But the fact remains that Chevy was in that room for that meeting. At the very least, he knew the broad strokes. Yet he said nothing when Aldrich celebrated on the ice, got his day with the CUP, got his severance pay, and Chevy said nothing. Aldrich went to jail, and Beach sued the Blackhawks, and Chevy said nothing. Terrible.
Jonathan Toews, for the most painful PR moment in a long time, talking how much he likes and respects Stan Bowman and Al MacIsaac. Now is definitely not the time and place.
And Toews, Kane, Ladd, and Keith are cowards, and they should be embarrased to play a game in the NHL right now. What a coincidence that the last four active players from that team knew nothing! What are the odds of that, and of Kane and Toews being in COVID protocol right when this came out?
The only players to admit to knowing what was going on, no longer have any skin in the game.
As for Marc Bergevin, I'm aware that he was not named in the report. But as Steve Dangle said, and apparently someone tweeted, he was the Director of Player Personnel. If he never had any clue what had happened at some point, then he was completely incompetent at his job.
The media, for letting a couple of guys run with it, while the rest of you stayed silent.
And the fans, who will go on supporting people who don't deserve that support, but because they share allegiance, it's all okay.
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