His past is relevant because there is a debate on extending him or not.

The guy is one year removed from trouble. Not 5

Race is not a factor here
- sbroads24

Read what I originally wrote...

It was all hypothetical.

To which race will be the deciding factor in my opinion as to how he will still be getting slammed for his "past"

Read what I originally wrote...

It was all hypothetical.

To which race will be the deciding factor in my opinion as to how he will still be getting slammed for his "past"
- Stripes77

If he stays out of the news, or wins, it will go away.

Trust me, I think race is rampant in the NHL

ROR drove drunk and crashed into a Tim Hortons, has a ridiculous contract, wanted a trade out of a city because they wouldn't give him a contract, refused to play anything but center and is a 50 point player.

But he has a cool hipster beard and a missing tooth and the correct skin tone, so he's a Dr. Phil in the locker room.
- BeadyEyedDouche

I love ROR. Now healthy, if IIHF Championships are any indication, dude is going to be an absolute beast this year.

It has to do with how good you are.

Sean Avery was a mediocre at best hockey player, and proved he wasn't good enough to overcome his Jackassery. He flamed out of the league

Evander Kane has done more than Alex Radulov. And has been treated about the same.

Again, I agree that race is absolutely relevant in hockey. But I don't think that's the issue with Kane.

His issue is he has one year left on his deal and a checkered past.
- sbroads24

You are wrong. People would not be as passionate throughout North America regarding their feelings toward Kane if he was a good, WHITE, Canadian/American, boy, they would be tempered like they are Mike Richards, Dany Heatley, Kevin Stevens, Zach Kassian, Jarret Stoll and our hometown boy Patrick Kane among others.

A leader leads and Buff wears an A, you wear that A on and off the ice with young players and what he did is not being a leader. I'm sure Kane can bare some responsibility also however Big Buff a a leader that players look up to and he did not do anything to show he's a leader off the ice.

The talk should be working out a deal to resign Kane not keep looking t move him. I was told that in July sometime Kane and his agent will meet with the Sabres brass to start gauging interest.
- SABRES 89

This is why 89 is awesome to read

Right, he has a past.

Listen, I'm about as liberal as they come, and probably have been quick to point how racist someone has been, maybe to a fault.

In Kane's case, he did it to himself. He is in fact a jack ass.

Ever hear of moral absolutism? Just because he's a jackass, that doesn't mean he can't also do good things
- sbroads24

I think the issue is that we wouldn't think he's a jackass if he was white, just "immature" or "a kid" and that, maybe even justifiably, he is being held to a higher standard BECAUSE he is black. He showed up late to a team meeting or wore a track suit or something in Winnipeg and he's all of a sudden some cancerous wart to the locker room and the other black guy just hates him so he must be just a jackass if the other black guy also thinks he is?

Then in Buffalo, put his hands on a woman and physically backed her off of him, or out of his space and HOLY HOT DAMN the kid's a woman beater POS and Winnipeg was right!

Other than that, its just a bunch of beat writers from WINNIPEG (Yes, as in "The Guess Who suck the Jets were lousy anyway" Winnipeg) saying this cocky black kid is a human plight and because the other black guy is an Uncle Tom and doesn't like him means it's not racial.

ROR and Evander Kane have done equally stupid things, have an equally checkered locker room history and to take it even further, one of them requested a trade while the other got run out of town.

Yet one is heralded as a leader/future captain (haven't seen it), a great 2-way forward (I expect a little more offensive production) and a face of the franchise, despite proving nothing across his career other than playing in one playoff series, once.

The other is a locker room virus, a criminal, a dumb hockey player and trade bait or gone at the end of his contract and NOT a face of the franchise.

You are wrong. People would not be as passionate throughout North America regarding their feelings toward Kane if he was a good, WHITE, Canadian/American, boy, they would be tempered like they are Mike Richards, Dany Heatley, Kevin Stevens, Zach Kassian, Jarret Stoll and our hometown boy Patrick Kane among others.
- GilPerreault11

Who's lining up to give Zach Kassian big $$??

Dany Heatley was a star, same with Stevens.

Jarrett Stoll got made fun of rigorously and was out of the league 2 years later

Pat Kane is a top 10 NHL player, and his potential rape was news daily for a year

None of these are comparables. We're talking about being labeled a locker room cancer. Not a rapist

It's not like Evander Kane was found guilty of rape while Pat Kane got off free. They both had the same result

Reinhart had 8 5on5 goals this year, the rest were PPG's. Our powerplay was number 1 in the league, stick Nylander on the powerplay I bet he has more or similar numbers. I mean i'll take a little drop off on powerplays for a better defense & He's not the run & gun player that they want this team to be, as you can see by our draft and where Botteril came from and had the same model.
As for Kane
1 year left on deal, Off ice issues. Had a strong season playing with EICHEL. He didn't start scoring till Eichel came back, plus he had like 5 empty net goals. Kinda inflates his numbers, 23 goals can be replaced especially playing with Eichel.
- Flynox

Your list of the guys to build around had 3 forwards that are proven in the NHL. The other two, though promising, could be Armia and Grigorenko for all we know. It's way too early to assume Reinhart isn't a good 5 on 5 player. Aside from Eichel I can't think of last time a Sabre had two 20 goal seasons before turning 22. Nylander isn't near a lock to score 20 for Roch this year.

Kane scored a bunch with freaking Gionta last year. Give home some credit.

I think the issue is that we wouldn't think he's a jackass if he was white, just "immature" or "a kid" and that, maybe even justifiably, he is being held to a higher standard BECAUSE he is black. He showed up late to a team meeting or wore a track suit or something in Winnipeg and he's all of a sudden some cancerous wart to the locker room and the other black guy just hates him so he must be just a jackass if the other black guy also thinks he is?

Then in Buffalo, put his hands on a woman and physically backed her off of him, or out of his space and HOLY HOT DAMN the kid's a woman beater POS and Winnipeg was right!

Other than that, its just a bunch of beat writers from WINNIPEG (Yes, as in "The Guess Who suck the Jets were lousy anyway" Winnipeg) saying this cocky black kid is a human plight and because the other black guy is an Uncle Tom and doesn't like him means it's not racial.

ROR and Evander Kane have done equally stupid things, have an equally checkered locker room history and to take it even further, one of them requested a trade while the other got run out of town.

Yet one is heralded as a leader/future captain (haven't seen it), a great 2-way forward (I expect a little more offensive production) and a face of the franchise, despite proving nothing across his career other than playing in one playoff series, once.

The other is a locker room virus, a criminal, a dumb hockey player and trade bait or gone at the end of his contract and NOT a face of the franchise.
- BeadyEyedDouche

False equivalency

I see I missed a great conversation with people calling someone a racist because they don't like a certain player Lol

I see I missed a great conversation with people calling someone a racist because they don't like a certain player Lol
- GERBE!!!75PTS

That's not what happened.

False equivalency
- sbroads24

No, they are relevant comparisons that support my argument.

That's not what happened.
- BeadyEyedDouche

Yes it did

Not by you

No, they are relevant comparisons that support my argument.
- BeadyEyedDouche

They aren't. One player had 1 incident off ice.

The other had 3 in one year, on his second team

Who's lining up to give Zach Kassian big $$??

Dany Heatley was a star, same with Stevens.

Jarrett Stoll got made fun of rigorously and was out of the league 2 years later

Pat Kane is a top 10 NHL player, and his potential rape was news daily for a year

None of these are comparables. We're talking about being labeled a locker room cancer. Not a rapist

It's not like Evander Kane was found guilty of rape while Pat Kane got off free. They both had the same result
- sbroads24

I'm talking about their persona and being defended by people like you and you are proving it right here; it's more than their abilities that helped them out in the public eye.

No, they are relevant comparisons that support my argument.
- BeadyEyedDouche

Also, Mike Harrington got ripped to shreds nationally for nominating O'Reilly for the Masterton after the DUI.

Again, race isn't relevant here

I'm talking about their persona and being defended by people like you and you are proving it right here; it's more than their abilities that helped them out in the public eye.
- GilPerreault11

No, my point is that if Evander Kane was a star, the stuff would be tolerated more by the media, fans etc

Also, Mike Harrington got ripped to shreds nationally for nominating O'Reilly for the Masterton after the DUI.

Again, race isn't relevant here
- sbroads24

Race is relevant and always will be in a homogeneous sport like hockey. You aren't going to change my mind, I'm not going to change your mind. Whatever

No, my point is that if Evander Kane was a star, the stuff would be tolerated more by the media, fans etc
- sbroads24

He's a pretty good hockey player, top 6, 28 goals last year, would have been 30+ in a league that's tough to score in. 4th overall pick; part of a massive trade. I think you are playing his abilities down.

Race is relevant and always will be in a homogeneous sport like hockey. You aren't going to change my mind, I'm not going to change your mind. Whatever
- GilPerreault11

Can you provide an example of how this city has been racist towards Kyle Okposo?

I'm not talking about the random bumhole. I'm talking someone calling him a bad teammate in the media or something similar to what Kane is experiencing.

He's a pretty good hockey player, top 6, 28 goals last year, would have been 30+ in a league that's tough to score in. 4th overall pick; part of a massive trade. I think you are playing his abilities down.
- GilPerreault11

This is accurate and true....

Can you provide an example of how this city has been racist towards Kyle Okposo?

I'm not talking about the random bumhole. I'm talking someone calling him a bad teammate in the media or something similar to what Kane is experiencing.
- sbroads24

Which Buffalo Sabre has even hinted at Kane being anything but Professional & Hard Working?

He's a pretty good hockey player, top 6, 28 goals last year, would have been 30+ in a league that's tough to score in. 4th overall pick; part of a massive trade. I think you are playing his abilities down.
- GilPerreault11

His production is that of a mediocre 2nd liner

Come on man, this is my other main point. He's talked about like a Rocket Richard winner.

The dude has averaged 39 points the last two years.

Pat Kane has averaged almost 95. That's the biggest difference between them. Not color

Looks like people are saying we got an absolute steal of a goaltender in Luukkonen. And here am I just hoping he works out so we can chant "Luuuu" in the games.

This is why 89 is awesome to read
- MEBSabresFAN

Thank you but some may disagree with you.