The NHL Draft pick can change for the better
That veteran leadership can also mold Trevor Connelly into a perfect contributor for the Vegas Golden Knights. The NHL Draft pick can pick the brains of various team leaders, completing his turnaround from his past. Starting with playing at Providence this fall, he'll have a clean slate to work with.
Should he be held accountable for his past actions? Absolutely. There's no room for unsoliticed attacks on anybody, whether it's race, religion, or other decrees. However, the Golden Knights are a structured organization that make sound decisions. With one of the best front offices in the NHL, they can bring in questionable talent and turn them into household names. Just look at Jack Eichel.
While most people don't recover well from xenophobic controversies, Connelly can become the exception to the rule. He's already talking about learning from his past and bettering himself. That's the first step. Most people are reluctant to admit to their mistakes, whether it's a man or woman or other denominations. He's taking that first step that many others won't take.