I'm sure most players dream of playing for their hometown.
But these players are also professionals. They don't just refuse to sign with a team that drafted them because they want to play closer to home. They work their way up, then maybe ask for a trade, and in the absence of a trade, pursue free agency.
Thousand Oaks native Trevor Moore signed with Toronto. Waterloo native Cal Petersen signed with LA. Madison native Phil Kessel signed with Boston. John Tavares, who "always dreamed of being a Leaf" and was drafted first overall signed with the Islanders. Indianapolis native and Red Wings fan Jack Johnson signed in LA.
It's very possible he never would sign with LA. But continuously citing how he subconsciously rooted for the Wild in a puff piece isn't evidence.
Here's the deal and real life. If you watch the entirety of this 4:42 video you will somewhat understand his situation
and you would fully understand, if you had a special needs son, daugher, sister or brother. If you have not lived through the following, with a special needs immediate family member, you could not understand.
My oldest son Justin is autistic and could not speak or even jump until age 4. I cannot tell you the strains and heartaches of this and what it compels you and others to do, for a loved one with special needs.
We were in 2-3 therapies a week from age 2 to 12 for him...dozens of people rallied around Justin and our family.
In fact, one crazy story is that Mark Hardy's sister in law was Justin;s one to one aid, one year, when he was 6 or 7 in his elementary school in Monrovia. Justin was never in a special needs class - he was highly intelligent and became high functioning, thankfully. (but needed a 1 to 1 aid through elementary) ...but she knew he loved hockey and that I took him to King games...one day, she came up to me and handed me a signed Luc Robitaille stick! Insane. I never asked for anything....it's just that good people rally around special needs kids and their families. when Justin graduated high school - AND - one reason we moved to Denver in 2006, there were better schools for autism than California had then...just another point of this post and Brock and Paige Faber
(that you will move, for a speical needs loved one). When Justin graduated high school, so many people in California that were instrumental in his life, flew out to Denver, for his graduation. It was a big deal. My ex made sacrifices and was Justin's advocate, quit her career, went to autism conferences around the country and she even wrote a book....she told me that her and I meant less...and this led to our divorce. But I never ceased to do all that I could for Justin. Even his little brother, became the big brother and looked out for him everywhere and stood up for him.
So, Brock's sister has special needs....just look how close they are. After watching that, tell me what Paige was saying the day Brock was drafted by the Kings?
(please know that special needs kids live in another world and process things entirely different and the ways the world works, they don't understand, or even accept, if it is explained) I wil tell you. She probably doesn't know where LA is and was probably hoping and praying the Wild drafted him and was devestated (and not happy Brock was just drafted 42nd by and NHL team)
that he was not on the Wild. Paige's loves in life: herself playing hockey, her brother Brock and watching Brock's games. That's probably her ENTIRE WORLD. And in the video "Brock is Paige's biggest fan and goes to all her games" That only happens in Minnesota.
Brock knows this and he will probably do anything for Paige, as much as for himself.
Brock himself is all about Minnesota and loves the Wild.
As far as I know, the 18 months (apx ?) he was Kings' property, he not once came out to LA., Did he?
He already knows what it will be like, if he plays in LA...that his sister will lose the biggest part of her.
Unless, they can move Paige there. (moving from LA to Denver was hard for Justin...most speical needs kids do not like change!) He may have even promised her that he would play college there
4 years and sign with the Wild. If Brock can help fulfill the desire's of his sister's heart, he certainly will.
Blake offered him a contract and he rebutted it...did you notice the next day, they signed Pinelli?
I don't know if they were up against the max, but it was interesting the day after Blake and Faber were
seen in that box, Pinelli signed. (the next day or 2)
I will say that after my divorce in Denver and how it's known for the worst city in USA to find love, I met the love of my life in Ft Worth and went back and forth 2 years and even kept a small apt there....she had 2 girls at home fulltime; 12 and 17 and I had Justin and my other son, 50% of the time in Denver. NO WAY would I ever move from him. She could not move, as her ex was an ex TCU football player and refused to let his daughters move to Denver....so it ended after 2 years.
If not for Justin? I would have moved to Ft Worth in a second. I will never leave him. He works at the airport Westin, drives a car and owns a small condo...but I will never leave him.
Best lady I ever met and since ending in 2018...have not found anyone close to her.