This wouldn’t have happened in the NHL today because there are so many teams, but back in the mid 60’s sometimes talent was buried in the AHL because there were only so many roster spots.
This is the case of Bill White who didn’t make it to the NHL until he was 28 and thrown in an expansion draft to the LA Kings. He would play 3 seasons and 189 games with the Kings until fortune turned his way and the Blackhawks with a trade that sent Denis DeJordy to LA and White to Chicago.