A Top Prospect Has N.H.L. Teams Confronting a New Challenge

In past due July, NHL scouts traveled to Central Europe for the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, an under-18 world match, to look at probably the most best possible younger gamers eligible for the 2024 NHL Draft.

Over six days, scouts bounced between the FOSFA Arena in Břeclav, Czech Republic, and the Pavol Demitra Ice Hockey Stadium in Trenčín, Slovakia, as they watched most likely first-round selections Berkly Catton and Sam Dickinson from Team Canada and extremely rated Czechia defenseman Adam Jiricek. But few potentialities stuck their consideration up to Trevor Connelly, a 17-year-old ahead from Tustin, Calif.

Over 5 video games, he scored 5 objectives and had 5 assists and led Team USA to its first medal on the match since 2016. He displayed dynamic skating, puck abilities and offensive creativity. In the bronze medal sport, Connelly went end-to-end and chipped a shot over the shoulder of Finland’s goalie. One scout stated of Connelly: “He looked like the best player here.”

His play used to be written about glowingly via a number of hockey publications, with The Hockey News calling his efficiency the “start of the hype train for him.” After taking part in properly within the United States’ best junior league and shining in some other world match in December, he moved as much as No. 5 on one outstanding listing of North American potentialities.

Connelly used to be identified to scouts ahead of the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, however his play pressured groups to believe him anew. He used to be now not only a prospect; he used to be a possible affect NHL participant. But that made the analysis of him thornier as a result of, as one scout stated, “Some stuff I’m just not willing to look the other way on.”

Many NHL evaluators have been already mindful that, in 2022, when he used to be 16, Connelly posted to Snapchat an image of a teammate sitting at the ground of the youngsters’s space of a library with development blocks assembled within the form of a swastika. Connelly added the caption “creations.” He used to be got rid of from his group, the Long Island Gulls, after that incident. Connelly apologized for the posting of the swastika and stated he didn’t know how hurtful it might be to others. Some NHL other people have been additionally mindful he were accused of directing a racial slur at an opponent right through a sport in 2021, which he has denied. He used to be first of all suspended after that allegation, despite the fact that the suspension used to be no longer upheld, with the disciplinary committee for the California Amateur Hockey Association writing that the allegation may just no longer be corroborated. Connelly instructed The Athletic he doesn’t use racial slurs. Some groups have been additionally mindful that Connelly were concerned with 4 novice systems from 2020-22, an strangely vagabond profession for a participant together with his skill; a type of stops, at Bishop Kearney, a highschool in Rochester, N.Y., with a make a choice hockey program, lasted lower than two weeks.

Teams also are comparing Connelly amidst a sea alternate within the stage of scrutiny being carried out to behaviour via NHL executives, coaches and gamers. Actions that would possibly have prior to now long gone not noted or unexamined are being uncovered and judged via the media and enthusiasts. That has resulted in the exile of a number of outstanding hockey males over the previous few years.

That scrutiny has trickled all the way down to the draft procedure. In the 2020 and 2021 drafts, groups selected potentialities they knew had dedicated misconduct and have been fiercely criticized. One group — the Arizona Coyotes — briefly renounced the participant’s rights. Another — the Montreal Canadiens — retained the participant however continued a dressing down from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, amongst others.

“You were always worried about the player’s character and how it could affect your team, but the external considerations are newer. How will your fans react? What will the feedback be on social media? Will people dig up anything on this player’s old social media posts? How will this pick reflect on your team and team ownership? These are all newer things we didn’t worry about as much before,” stated one NHL government.

Even groups that stated they have got already determined in opposition to drafting Connelly are grappling with the questions his analysis raises, figuring it gained’t be the ultimate time they’re put to this check. How a lot must a company’s said values determine within the draft procedure? How do groups weigh a prospect’s skill as opposed to misdeeds from the previous? Because potentialities are ceaselessly minors when troubling conduct happens, groups also are seeking to decipher what acts are byproducts of immaturity versus indicators of a bigger fear. And when is a 2nd probability warranted?

Said the NHL government: “Before, we never would have met with our public relations department to discuss a potential draft pick.”

The due diligence groups do on potentialities is, as one NHL government termed it, in large part a “word of mouth” device. “None of us are HR people. None of us know the questions to ask. We all have our network of people. We just call each other,” stated an NHL government, who like some others who spoke to The Athletic have been granted anonymity as a result of they weren’t licensed to talk about potentialities or their group’s draft procedure. Some adolescence hockey assets have been granted anonymity because of their concern of retribution.

As NHL scouts start comparing a prospect, their first name is most often to a trainer who labored with the participant. Some scouts would possibly dig deeper, speaking to folks, billets and teammates, however some evaluators don’t, depending virtually completely upon the opinion of a trainer with whom they will have a courting. Coaches can give an excessive amount of details about their big name gamers. But additionally they aren’t independent. Coaching a top draft pick out can result in a greater process for a trainer and extra price ticket income for a junior group. The NHL additionally compensates Canadian Hockey League groups for drafted gamers who make the NHL with CHL eligibility last. “They are incentivized to promote that player,” stated one former NHL government.

Also, hockey is a parochial game, and there’s an ingrained reluctance via a lot of those that talk with NHL scouts to expose data that might imperil a professional profession. In hockey parlance: No one needs to be the man who “buries” a child.

There are indisputably dozens of present NHL gamers, if no longer extra, who’ve benefited from the program. “There are good players out there who have done bad stuff that have already been drafted, they just haven’t been caught,” stated one NHL group legitimate.

But even if the wrongdoing is well known, it hasn’t stopped groups from drafting a skilled prospect.

At the 2014 draft, the Tampa Bay Lightning used the No. 19 general pick out on Tony DeAngelo, an 18-year-old defenseman from the Sarnia (Ontario) Sting who used to be two times suspended for violating the league’s harassment and abuse coverage for using a slur. Al Murray, Tampa Bay’s director of novice scouting, stated on the time of the draft that probably the most incidents involving DeAngelo have been “blown out of proportion.” Most significantly, the Lightning confronted little to no grievance for settling on DeAngelo.

DeAngelo used to be traded to the Arizona Coyotes after handiest two years within the Tampa Bay group, by no means taking part in for the NHL group, amidst a file of “attitude issues.” In general, he has performed for 5 organizations over 9 seasons and confronted group and league self-discipline for, amongst different problems, a bodily altercation together with his personal group’s goaltender, for what his trainer referred to as a “maturity issue” and for bodily abuse of an legitimate.

Fast ahead to the 2020 draft.

The Coyotes drafted Mitchell Miller, a defenseman from Sylvania, Ohio, within the fourth around. Miller used to be at one level projected to be decided on a lot upper, however then NHL groups discovered that once Miller used to be 14 years outdated he used to be convicted of attack after he kicked and punched a developmentally disabled classmate, referred to as him a racial slur and satisfied him to devour a work of sweet that were dragged thru a urinal.

Like DeAngelo, NHL groups knew about Miller’s previous; some groups took him off their draft board, that means they wouldn’t make a choice him regardless of how a long way he fell. After the draft, Coyotes president Xavier Gutierrez stated the group would lend a hand Miller be informed from his previous misconduct. But Coyotes enthusiasts weren’t having it. Social media backlash used to be fierce. Mitchell’s sufferer stated how harm he used to be via the pick out; his mom instructed the Coyotes her son by no means gained an apology from Miller.

A couple of weeks after the draft, the Coyotes renounced Miller’s rights.

In November 2022, the Boston Bruins signed Miller, who used to be coming off an 83-point marketing campaign with the Tri-City Storm of the USHL. Boston enthusiasts flooded the Bruins’ inbox and posted seething feedback at the group’s Instagram web page. Respected Boston veterans Patrice Bergeron, Nick Foligno and Brad Marchand voiced their disapproval.

The Bruins promptly launched Miller. Team president Cam Neely apologized to the sufferer’s circle of relatives and stated the Bruins can be “re-evaluating” inside processes. Miller now performs in Russia.

Another check for NHL groups got here on the 2021 draft. Logan Mailloux, an 18-year-old from Ontario, tantalized scouts as a blueliner with measurement and talent. But a minimum of 9 groups instructed The Athletic that Mailloux were got rid of from their board because of his legal conviction in Sweden more or less seven months previous for disseminating {a photograph} of himself and a tender girl, taken with out her consent, engaged in a sexual act. Prior to the draft, Mailloux referred to as the behavior a “stupid, childish mistake,” however in interviews with some NHL groups Mailloux allegedly portrayed the lady as vindictive.

Three days ahead of the draft, the younger girl instructed The Athletic that every one she sought after used to be a “heartfelt apology” from Mailloux. An hour after the e-newsletter of that tale, Mailloux introduced that he used to be asking groups to not draft him as a result of he had no longer “demonstrated strong enough maturity or character to earn that privilege.” Mailloux’s announcement brought about many NHL executives to think he’d cross undrafted.

The draft used to be held nearly that yr, with groups videoconferencing in to make picks. When it got here time for the Montreal Canadiens to make the No. 31 general pick out, normal supervisor Marc Bergevin introduced that the Habs “were proud to select … the Knights de London défenseur Logan Mailloux.” The pick out used to be adopted via a number of seconds of lifeless air ahead of host John Buccigross stated: “All right, well, this is something the league probably wishes didn’t happen.” Draft analyst Sam Cosentino added right through the published: “The most polarizing pick I’ve ever seen, maybe in the history of the draft.”

Canadiens assistant normal supervisor Trevor Timmins struggled to get a hold of a solution when requested in regards to the pick out day after today. Trudeau, the Canadian top minister and a lifelong Habs fan, stated he used to be “deeply disappointed.” Montreal due to this fact introduced Mailloux wouldn’t attend construction camp or coaching camp.

But he stays within the Habs group and used to be an all-star for the Laval Rocket of the American Hockey League. The two males chargeable for choosing him, on the other hand, are now not with the Habs. Bergevin and Timmins have been ousted inside of months of drafting Mailloux. The group used to be suffering after they have been let cross, however drafting Mailloux stays a part of their legacy in Montreal.

Miller and Mailloux have been convicted of legal acts. What Connelly did or has been accused of doing is tougher to categorize and that makes his analysis other. For some groups, that grey area may just give you the room had to take an opportunity on Connelly. For others, that grey area, the unknown, heightens the worry. “He’s a hell of a player and could play in the league for a long time,” stated one NHL government. “(But) you may not keep your job after picking him.”

Connelly, his mom and his representatives have labored laborious to make the case that Connelly is responsible of just a unmarried younger mistake: the posting of the offensive picture to Snapchat. And when discussing that incident, they spotlight the outreach he has completed to higher perceive the hurtful nature of the picture he posted and the group provider he’s finished.

“We determined that he’s not a hateful kid. He’s an ignorant kid. And my position is you don’t punish ignorance, you punish hatred. You educate ignorance,” stated John Osei-Tutu, an NHL agent advising the Connelly circle of relatives.

But Connelly’s widespread strikes and quick tenures at outstanding hockey systems have additionally been flagged via groups. While it isn’t abnormal for best potentialities to transport to a brand new program looking for a greater state of affairs, Connelly’s well-traveled profession sticks out. Between the ages of more or less 13 and 17, he used to be a member of 7 other systems, and that integrated two stops the place he stayed lower than a month. To perceive what could be in the back of the ones widespread strikes, The Athletic spoke to greater than 40 other people (gamers, oldsters, coaches and others) who interacted with Connelly right through his taking part in profession.

Connelly performed six seasons for the Anaheim (Calif.) Jr. Ducks, finishing with the 2018-19 season when Connelly used to be round 13, and The Athletic interviewed greater than a dozen oldsters who had a kid who used to be a teammate of Connelly’s right through a minimum of a type of seasons. Ten of the ones oldsters stated they witnessed conduct via Connelly that they thought to be troubling, and 8 of the ones 10 oldsters described Connelly’s movements as bullying.

Four oldsters stated they noticed Connelly punch a teammate right through follow; 3 of the ones oldsters stated they noticed it occur a couple of instances. It used to be typically according to Connelly getting pissed off, the ones 3 oldsters say, reminiscent of when he misplaced a puck fight or a teammate wouldn’t permit him to chop in line right through a drill. Five oldsters stated he would slash teammates together with his stick out of frustration. Four of the ones 5 oldsters stated additionally they noticed him slew-foot gamers — commute an opponent from in the back of with a leg or foot.

Individually, the ones incidents aren’t unprecedented on the perfect ranges of minor hockey. And some oldsters chalked up Connelly’s conduct to the truth that he used to be intensively aggressive. However, the incidents have been widespread sufficient that 8 oldsters stated that in the future they felt fear for the well-being in their son or that of alternative gamers.

Parents stated Connelly additionally picked on some teammates within the locker room and clear of the rink. He looked as if it would center of attention on gamers who have been small in stature and/or have been a few of the much less gifted contributors of the group, in keeping with 8 oldsters. He would make a laugh in their look, inform them they weren’t excellent gamers and that they didn’t belong at the group, amongst different insults. “He wasn’t just a troublemaker; it wasn’t just that. He was mean,” stated one guardian.

One mom stated her son have shyed away from group actions, like bus rides or group foods, to keep away from being round Connelly greater than used to be vital. Another mom stated her son requested not to keep on the group resort as a result of he didn’t wish to be round Connelly. Yet some other guardian stated she went as far as to invite her son to help a participant Connelly time and again picked on. “It’s frustrating when you have to tell your kid to protect his teammate from another teammate,” she stated. Two gamers left the Anaheim Jr. Ducks program previous to or right through or the 2017-18 season partly as a result of how they have been handled via Connelly, in keeping with 3 oldsters related to that program.

Connelly, according to the above allegations, wrote in an electronic mail: “I am surprised and sad to hear these allegations. It is difficult to respond to anonymous allegations. I’m willing to sit down privately with anyone and listen to what they have to say. I wasn’t a perfect kid or teammate. It’s no secret I am highly competitive and there were definitely times when I let my competitiveness get the best of me but I never tried to intentionally injure anyone.

“Since I started playing travel hockey, I’ve had to listen to a lot of negative things yelled at me when I was on the ice, mostly by parents of other players. I know what that feels like and it’s one of the reasons I’ve committed myself to being a leader on and off the ice.”

Three oldsters stated they complained to Jr. Ducks trainer Eugene Kabanets about Connelly’s behavior in the future. (The Athletic reviewed a type of proceedings, despatched by means of electronic mail, when the gamers have been round 11.) Others stated they have been reluctant to whinge as a result of Connelly used to be this sort of excellent participant that they didn’t imagine Kabanets would do the rest.

Kabanets stated that there used to be the “occasional conflict” at the group however described Connelly as a “good teammate.” He added in an electronic mail: “If and when I observed issues or when concerns were ever brought to my attention, I spoke to the players in question and to their parents and we would address it immediately at that time. The main thing that stands out to me when I think about bullying during that time period is what I observed Trevor endure personally. He was the victim of ridicule and extreme bullying from a young age, often from the parents of opposing players. It was very difficult to watch and I know that it was hard for him as a young child.”

For the 2019-20 season, then 13-year-old Connelly left the Jr. Ducks and performed up an age staff with the AA San Diego Saints. Coaches Josh Robinson and Rob Overman stated they have been ignorant of any explicit problems involving Connelly right through his one season with the group. Tanya Maxwell, who carpooled her son and Connelly to follow a couple of instances every week, stated Connelly used to be a type teammate and added in an electronic mail that the fishbowl surroundings of minor hockey in California could cause “a lot of jealousy and unwarranted gossip about the top players.”

In 2020, Connelly, then 14, enrolled at Bishop Kearney, which began a boys make a choice hockey program right through the pandemic, drawing best gamers from across the nation. Almost instantly, the college suspended Connelly, however he left Bishop Kearney in a while thereafter. A public family members legitimate running with the circle of relatives stated that every one that are supposed to be written about Connelly’s quick stint on the college is: “He was there for a week and he left.”

Sources concerned within the college’s hockey program stated that Connelly used to be suspended after urinating on some other pupil’s assets, amongst different alleged acts. One supply stated Connelly used to be performing according to hazing that Connelly had gained previous. That supply stated he witnessed the hazing Connelly continued and likewise noticed scholars tease Connelly about being hazed.

Steve Salluzzo, Bishop Kearney’s president, wrote in an electronic mail: “We do not discuss student matters with anyone beyond students and their families.”

Trevor Connelly stated in a observation: “At 14 years old, I was the victim of a humiliating hazing incident in my dorm room and then harassed about it afterwards. I reacted poorly to the situation with an immature act. While I took responsibility at the time, I regret and am embarrassed by how I handled myself.”

Connelly subsequent joined the North Jersey Avalanche of the Atlantic Youth Hockey League. Avalanche trainer Donny Kane stated Connelly left this system after roughly two weeks as it changed into too tough to shuttle between California and the East Coast incessantly as a result of shuttle and quarantine insurance policies right through the pandemic. Matt Zocco, a trainer and father in this system, stated Connelly used to be “well mannered” in all his dealings with him.

Connelly returned to Southern California however didn’t rejoin the Jr. Ducks. “At that time we did not feel he was a good fit for our program,” the group stated in a observation.

Connelly as an alternative joined Anaheim’s Jr. Ice Dogs, and in April 2021, when he used to be 15 and taking part in for that group as opposed to the L.A. Jr. Kings, he used to be accused of directing a racial slur at an opponent. What came about stays in dispute. The participant got here off the ice “so visibly shaken and upset with tears streaming down his face after the incident that I had to sit him for the remainder of the first period so he could collect himself,” in keeping with an electronic mail his trainer, Brett Beebe, despatched to Pacific District legitimate Wayne Sawchuk, which used to be seen via The Athletic.

Video pictures of that sport displays the participant leaving the ice within the first length and flagging his trainer’s consideration. The two transfer in the back of the bench and talk for roughly one minute, with the trainer consoling the participant. The participant then walks to a close-by vestibule and bends over together with his arms on his knees, the place he stays till the length ends.

Beebe requested in his electronic mail to Sawchuk that the incident be reported to contributors of the Pacific District match disciplinary committee. He later testified ahead of that committee, which suspended Connelly.

The topic used to be then taken up via the disciplinary listening to committee of the California Amateur Hockey Association (CAHA). After a listening to ahead of that staff, the panel discovered that “the alleged incident as described by the Pacific District Tournament Disciplinary Committee may have occurred, however, there was no supporting documentation presented by the (Pacific District Tournament Disciplinary Committee) that corroborated the allegation against the player, and the player maintained that he at no time uttered any racial slurs against his opponent,” in keeping with its written determination. In remaining, the CAHA committee said that Connelly had no longer violated america Hockey rule masking misconduct.

Connelly attended the listening to, carried out by means of videoconference, as did his oldsters and Osei-Tutu, his adviser. Beebe and the participant who alleged Connelly used the slur weren’t in attendance, in keeping with the committee’s written determination. Beebe stated in an interview he used to be no longer made mindful that the listening to used to be happening, and no person from CAHA alerted him that the allegation used to be below additional evaluation. The participant who made the preliminary allegation used to be no longer contacted in regards to the listening to, both, nor have been his oldsters or the participant’s adviser.

CAHA president Tom Hancock declined to remark, bringing up CAHA’s coverage no longer to talk about disciplinary issues involving minors. Sawchuk additionally declined to remark. Connelly wrote in an electronic mail: “I don’t use racial slurs. I have stood up for teammates when they have been called racial slurs and I understand this is a problem in our sport. This is why I’m so committed to my work as a coach and mentor with Hockey Players of Color.”

Colleen Connelly, right through a two-hour interview in Nebraska, the place Trevor Connelly lately performs for the Tri-City Storm of the USHL, stated: “There is a significant history with (the LA Jr. Kings) and my son. Parents on that team have been extremely abusive to Trevor for many years.”

Connelly returned to the East Coast for the 2021-22 season, becoming a member of the Long Island Gulls. In March 2022, Connelly, then 16, posted the picture on Snapchat of a teammate sitting subsequent to the development blocks assembled within the form of a swastika. The picture used to be briefly taken down, however screenshots circulated and group officers and oldsters discovered of the picture. (The Athletic has reviewed a screenshot.)

The two gamers weren’t instantly disciplined — they performed in a regional match days later — however after consulting with the U.S. Center for SafeSport, USA Hockey, New York’s state governing frame and the membership’s lawyer, who carried out an inside investigation, the Gulls got rid of each gamers from the group.

The incident got here at a time when Connelly used to be ready to be recruited via faculty systems, despite the fact that some faculties had already determined to not pursue him. “Because of everything that went with him, we just didn’t (recruit him),” stated a trainer at one perennial powerhouse.

Connelly referred to as the incident an “awful mistake” in an electronic mail and added: “While I was not in the photo and did not participate in building the symbol, I understand and recognize how ignorant I was in sharing it. I did not appreciate how offensive and hurtful the post would be in the moment and I still feel terrible about it.

“Over the last year and a half, I’ve dedicated a lot of time and energy to educating myself, completing diversity trainings, doing volunteer community service work, and to coaching and mentoring other hockey players. I am also very grateful to be working with a Rabbi and Cantor. They have been very kind to me and I’m learning a lot from them.”

In an interview with RinkLive, which got here after Connelly’s play on the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, Connelly stated he had visited the L.A. Holocaust Museum and skim the ebook “Night” via Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel, and that he used to be present process variety, fairness and inclusion classes and acting group provider.

Jazmine Miley, the founding father of the Hockey Players of Color program the place Connelly volunteered following the swastika incident, stated: “Trevor is an amazing young man who just made a dumb mistake and is working his way to fixing that.”

Trevor Connelly stated he has “dedicated a lot of time and energy to educating myself.” (Courtesy of Tri-City Storm / USHL)

Osei-Tutu, who started advising the Connelly circle of relatives across the time Trevor left Bishop Kearney, has been lobbying NHL groups on Connelly’s behalf. In protection of his shopper, he has a tendency to ward off on or deny all however the swastika incident. The different allegations are unfaithful, misconstrued or lack context, he stated. He considers Connelly to be most commonly “a victim of the game of telephone.”

This runs opposite to how some NHL groups view Connelly. “We’re willing to forgive and take a chance on a kid who just makes one mistake, the issue for teams comes when there is a pattern and you’re worried it is representative of a real issue with the player and not just immaturity,” stated a scout.

In September, Osei-Tutu despatched a flurry of direct messages protecting Connelly to a potentialities author after that author posted on social media a quote about Connelly from an unnamed scout: “He’s got top 10 skill, but bottom 10 character.” Osei-Tutu time and again expressed fear that The Athletic used to be seeking to “destroy” or “cancel” Connelly. He additionally introduced in an interview the identify of some other prospect who used to be prior to now disciplined for the usage of racist language and recommended The Athletic glance into that participant. On a couple of events he tried to attract a difference between Connelly and Mitchell Miller, pronouncing handiest his shopper confirmed responsibility.

After the Connelly circle of relatives changed into mindful The Athletic used to be running in this tale, they engaged an lawyer who prior to now used to be excited by a lawsuit in opposition to The Athletic. (That lawsuit has since been dropped.) That lawyer despatched an eight-page letter that, amongst different assertions over greater than 3,500 phrases, attacked the journalistic integrity of one of the crucial writers running in this tale. The circle of relatives additionally engaged a Los Angeles-based public family members one that contains “reputation management” amongst her spaces of experience in her corporate bio.

Connelly just lately started assembly with NHL groups, and evaluators have requested him direct questions in regards to the swastika incident and his prevent at Bishop Kearney and different problems, parsing his responses. One evaluator described Connelly as in advance and clear in his assembly with him, some other stated Connelly used to be desperate to deflect blame onto others and confirmed little responsibility. But even that parsing is not going to deliver true readability for groups debating whether or not they must make a choice Connelly on the June 28 draft in Las Vegas. When a prospect’s misconduct falls into a distinct class than, say, Mitchell Miller, when the wrongdoing takes position right through a prospect’s teenage years (or more youthful), when groups are seeking to decipher whether or not wrongdoing is an indication of an actual behavioral drawback, a blank analysis of Connelly and gamers like him one day might not be imaginable. Especially as groups think about what including a participant of his skill can imply for a franchise.

“I believe in a path to redemption but it’s not my job to provide it,” stated one scouting director. But some other evaluator predicted Connelly shall be selected, simply no longer as early because the scores portend. “At one point the difference between him and the next guy will be too big,” stated the scout. “All it takes is one team.”

(Illustration: Eamonn Dalton / The Athletic. Main picture courtesy Dan Hickling / USHL; different pictures courtesy Tri-City Storm / USHL)