What happens if a player refuses to be drafted?

What happens if a player refuses to be drafted? Ugh, the whole thing makes me cringe just thinking about it. Imagine, seriously, being picked by a team you absolutely despise. Like, their colors clash with your soul, you know? You could totally refuse, I guess. Sit out a year, try again next time around. But that’s a HUGE risk, right? I mean, teams are gonna be all, "Oh, that guy? Drama queen." And missing a whole year's salary? That's not pocket change, my friend. That's like… my mortgage for a year, maybe two! Ouch.

It's such a tough call. It feels like you're risking your entire career, your whole future, just for a better fit. Is it really worth it? My cousin’s best friend, Mark – fantastic hockey player, seriously talented – almost did that. He hated the team that drafted him, said their coach was a tyrant, (I’ve heard stories… yikes!). He almost refused. He talked to his agent for days, agonized over it. Finally, he signed, I think mostly because of the money. He regretted it immediately. He ended up playing only one season there before being traded. A lot of stress for something that could have gone very, very differently. You're basically gambling on your whole life, on your dream. It's gut-wrenching, a real heart-stopper.