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When it rains, it pours.

After weeks of almost eerie quiet on the rumor front, I heard from three top sources in the last 24 hours on a range of subjects but all one back ultimately to the legal situation in Western New York—as much as some are tired of discussing it.

The one thing everyone should know is the Hawks hands are somewhere between sort of and completely tied with regard to that situation.

Still, there are lots of talks going on and the Hawks are preparing for a range of eventualities, starting with Patrick Kane's future.

Before I come back to that, I was told there were "legs" to the rumors involving Jeff Skinner and Bryan Bickell. What everyone needs to consider here is that both teams are trying to move big contracts attached to players with injury issues, so the sweeteners and money going each way would be critical to the deal. I also heard this afternoon that there are still talks going on with Carolina, and they could involve a smaller deal, still involving Skinner, a top Carolina prospect, Bickell, another highly paid Hawk veteran not named Kris Versteeg, and significant cap savings for the Hawks.

Meanwhile, talks happen regularly between the Hawks and the Jets, and I am hearing there is interest in perhaps putting together a significant deal there, possibly involving Corey Crawford, Ondrej Pavelec and a top (I mean top) Jet prospect.

On the Kane front, I am not at liberty to share the specifics of some of what I am hearing (similar and different details from all three sources—but none contradictory). But what I am hearing consistently is that there is a very real possibility Kane has played his last game in a Hawk sweater, or if he does play in Chicago this season, it will not be for long.

Setting the legal issues aside, what some Hawk fans need to understand is whether Kane is actually guilty of a crime in this instance almost doesn't matter in terms of his ongoing career in Chicago.

What is indisputable are some of the circumstances (one in particular) surrounding all of Kane's incidents since 2009. And the issue, aside from whatever legal consequences come of these latest events, is what might happen in the future. You cannot dismiss that as a real concern for the Chicago Blackhawks and their sponsors.

Interestingly, I am hearing that about 29 teams (perhaps exaggerating a little) would line up for Kane's services. But pretty much all of them to one degree or another, would want very real assurances that Kane's issues are behind him—that he is committed to acknowledging those issues and taking some steps and making some serious changes.

But then the question becomes, if Kane is willing to do that, why not just keep him in Chicago?

Very good question. The larger question is the degree of certainty that any given club has that Kane will, in fact, straighten up and fly right. And some other team may have a greater degree of certainty than the Hawks do. Or not.

I am also told other teams would be willing to give up significant—i.e., all-star quality players+ to acquire Kane—assuming they have some assurance he is on the right path going forward.

But the last thing the Hawks wanted to do going into this summer of their third Cup in 6 years was deal Patrick Kane or terminate his contract by some means. But that could happen. And if it does, it has a significant effect on the salary cap and the roster.

The Hawks, I'm told, are working through numerous scenarios where Kane remains in Chicago and where he doesn't. Not unlike the pre-emptive work Stan Bowman did before it became apparent that Brandon Saad was going to get offer-sheeted.

From the No Duh Department: the Hawks are committed to having Marcus Kruger's new contract signed before the start of training camp. So it is fair to say that even if Kane's situation is not cleared up by then, there will some move of some significance made before September 18 that makes Kruger's signing possible.


All I have for now,


JJ


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