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Quick Hit Rumors I was told this morning:
Bryan Bickell could end up in Arizona, possibly as soon as this week.
Ryan Hartman’s stock is on the rise due to his play and leadership at the Traverse City Prospects Tourney. The 'Hawks now he feel he could compete for a job in Chicago this year.
Erik Gustafsson also impressed at the tourney and might actually bump Trevor van Riemsdyk out of the picture in Chicago.
Speaking of the third pairing, the Hawks feel this could be the year David Rundblad puts it together and becomes a solid contributor.
The Hawks are working on a one-year extension of Marcus Kruger’s current deal—to give him a little stability as a reward for his patience.
There’s a little concern that Trevor Daley’s surgically repaired hip might not be healing as quickly as he and the team trainers would like.
Teuvo Teravainen will be given a shot at center in camp and/or in exhibition games, but Patrick Kane’s status might have some bearing on it and TT could end up at right wing.
The Hawks are feeling very good about all their new Russian imports—especially Artemi Panarin who they feel could have a big season as a rookie.
As for Patrick Kane, there could be an announcement of a resolution in his case tomorrow or Friday—and this may be why the Hawks have decided to include him in camp.
Or not.
This summer’s legal drama has been incredibly instructive. Never before have more people "known" more about a case that really no one really knows anything about.
The latest twist is the “announcement” that Kane has been invited to camp and ostensibly will show up and participate.
Should we believe that Kane will show up, or is this just the way the Hawks are playing the hand for now—acting as though it’s business as usual on the off chance Kane’s situation will be at least somewhat resolved in the next couple of days.
For my part, I was more than a little surprised to hear the Hawks would likely just go on with things as though nothing had changed.
But, we still don’t really know what’s going on.
The legal situation may “resolve.” Kane may show up at camp, the “right" things will be said, the puck will drop. It’s over, right?
That’s the part I find next to impossible to believe. That the Hawks will just forget about this latest “event” and hope everyone else will. Honestly, I don’t see it.
My gut tells me the Hawks just want the publicity to die down—to give them some breathing room and allow Kane's "toxicity" to subside a bit—and besides, Kane hasn’t been charged and he has a right to show up and do his job, even if it will be a big distraction at camp.
But that doesn’t mean this situation will be forgotten or that this is the last twist in the saga. Far from it.
I’ll have more as I hear it.
JJ
Chicago Blackhawks Blogger • 
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