It may be many things, but it isn't "naivety", the Hawks were trusting an ADULT to act the part he agreed to. They were wrong, that's all. Again, Kane's talent and propensity in the clutch make him "believable"...and also remember, the Hawks were not unanimous on giving Kane his extension. What would you have done? I know I would likely have signed him with specific language in his contract...and that's exactly what the Hawks did.
- MexicoHawk

Agreed, they did the right thing by extending Kane. There was no way they could take a chance on him leaving. They don't have to keep him now.

On the cap relief:

If (IF) no charges are filed (or before the DA finishes his investigation), should Kane enter some kind of rehab program, couldn't the Hawks legitimately put him on LTIR?

I would assume that LTIR rules would include non-hockey-related injuries and illnesses, including mental illnesses.

But - I still think that BEFORE putting him on LTIR on the first day of the season, they would have to be cap compliant including his cap hit.
- StLBravesFan

This situation is not a common occurrence in the NHL ....The league may have to get involved in the cap issue part of the tangled web.

Sorry but I just think the Kane situation is an excuse for not signing him.

LA is in a similar situation with voynov and Richards being unresolved.
- KINGS67

The situations are not that similar. First of all, this might not get resolved for a while and the Blackhawks might have to eat his cap hit. Secondly, the outcome will put the Blackhawks on one of three very different possible scenarios. 1) he's guilty, his contract voided, the Blackhawks have $10.5m of cap space to work with, 2) he's cleared, makes his public statement of getting his act together, and the Blackhawks look to trade him, or 3) he's cleared, makes statement, Blackhawks keep him.

Only in the third scenario does it make sense for the Blackhawks to sign a veteran D-man as a next move after signing Kruger. The other scenarios open up other possibilities.

But all of that is down the road. The Blackhawks don't want to make a commitment with so much uncertainty and players like Ehrhoff don't want to wait. Not just an excuse, it's the reality of the situation.

i fully expect Kaner to be traded before camp. Hawks would be crazy not to move him now if he comes back cleared of all charges. llike others have said one more kaner night out and he is worth nothing.

Pavelec is a head case who could not even hold the starting job on the Czech national team behind another head case well known to the Hawks - Aleksander Salak.

Any deal losing Crawford for him would also a bad one.

Still dont see C2 waiving to leave Chicago.

First to use analytics? Overstated about being the 1st....and even now the Hawks blend their own analytical cocktail but they don't drown in it.

It depends how you define better but most in the NHL would say Bob Murray has been better over the same amount of time even though he doesn't have any Cups.
- Al

First to rely on it heavily in decision making for personnel decisions. I don't see how Murray could even be a remote consideration given what you already stated; he has zero SC wins as a GM and he also has inherited a nice core when he ascended into the GM position. I think almost all would identify Bowman as the best and it's hard to deny the results.

any chance Kane is sent down to florida so he can live out of the spotlight, help a young club make the playoffs and grow the game. Ekblad would be a good starting point!

Pavelec is a head case who could not even hold the starting job on the Czech national team behind another head case well known to the Hawks - Aleksander Salak.

Any deal losing Crawford for him would also a bad one.

Still dont see C2 waiving to leave Chicago.
- Return of the Roar

If Chevy could get Crawford to Winnipeg for Pavelec done with the main pieces being those two players....He should win GM of the year for not only 2016 but the following year as well.

If Chevy could get Crawford to Winnipeg done with the main pieces being those two players....He should win GM of the year for not only 2016 but the following year as well.


- Al

Agreed. It would be a robbery.

any chance Kane is sent down to florida so he can live out of the spotlight, help a young club make the playoffs and grow the game. Ekblad would be a good starting point!
- SaskHawkFan

I think that Florida is right up there with Toronto and Winnipeg as the most likely possibility. Obviously There is the Chicago connection with Tallon, and the fact that Kane was Tallon's first overall pick back in 07. Could be a good return too; in the last few blogs i was predicting the return to look something like Alexander Barkov Lawson Crouse and a 1st for Kane.

First to rely on it heavily in decision making for personnel decisions. I don't see how Murray could even be a remote consideration given what you already stated; he has zero SC wins as a GM and he also has inherited a nice core when he ascended into the GM position. I think almost all would identify Bowman as the best and it's hard to deny the results.
- jfkst1

The last 2 who won the GM of the year(Murray and Stevie Y) and there are others who would be considered by others in NHL front office position to be better than Bowman.

...And if you look at the structure of Chicago's hockey ops you will see you are also wrong about the pronounced use of hockey analytics.

Skinner is way younger and plays a much more sustainable kind of game. If he can remain healthy, big if, he his a legitimate skilled goal scoring threat.
- JakeTech19

Kid is 23, 7th overall pick in 2010, put up 30 goals and 63 points as a 19 yr old rookie. Damn right legitimately skilled, and intriguing to many. Tons of offensive skill.

But besides his injury history (concussions I believe) is this guy is allergic to his own end and is small. ........I can see the Hawks looking for veteran skill if "Kaner" is done as a Hawk (Skinner at 23 is a 5 yr vet) but not sure he's the answer. Skilled no doubt, but plenty of questions that make him a gamble.

Depends on the deal of course, and if as earlier reported the Canes will take 1.75 mil of his salary per year for the remainder of his 4 yrs under contract.

Its simply a question of looking up the returns for superstars involved in trades over the last 20 years.... They almost never return equal value... I Won't speak for all organizations but Pittsburgh would not have traded Crosby or Malkin for him before the scandal.... Simply put there both are centers and honestly both are better.... Kessel although not as good as Kane is making 4 million dollars less and Letang/ Maatta are to important for the d.... Now add the scandal to the equation... Unless Chicago is accepting a package of Rob Scuderi, Kunitz and Beau Bennett and eating 3 million per of Kane's contract it not happening. (No one in their right mind would make that deal from Chicago's side).... I assume other teams are in very similar situations considering its late August....Experts no... just seems like common sense considering the facts
- Brianandr1

I guess the problem I have.....is show me where anyone here thinks they will get equal value?
Fans from other teams are coming here to gloat about the position the team is in. And I do not believe they could get equal value considering the situation. But posters such as yourself throwing out ridiculous trade scenarios(like above) are no more likely to happen then us swapping Kane for Stamkos!

The last 2 who won the GM of the year(Murray and Stevie Y) and there are others who would be considered by others in NHL front office position to be better than Bowman.

...And if you look at the structure of Chicago's hockey ops you will see you are also wrong about the pronounced use of hockey analytics.
- Al

Sure, and Shero won GM of the year and was deservingly fired a year later. Considering the explicit statements by Bowman and the pronounced aptitude of players he acquires, saying they don't rely on underlying numbers in personnel decisions appears entirely inaccurate.

Glad the Hawks missed on Ehrhoff. Skinner isn't coming to Chicago. The Crawford deal to WPG? For Pavelec? *sigh*.

Bickell is NOT a solid 2-way player. No one is trading for Kane while this mess is going on.

Sure, and Shero won GM of the year and was deservingly fired a year later. Considering the explicit statements by Bowman and the pronounced aptitude of players he acquires, saying they don't rely on underlying numbers in personnel decisions appears entirely inaccurate.
- jfkst1

U seem to like to overstate...

I never said they don't use analytics and have for some time...But they don't drown in it.

The Hawks like most in pro sports blend their own analytical cocktail but this isn't close to being a money ball situation as you implied.

Also....Before you crown Bowman as the best around...examine what was here before Bowman took the job and what he netted in trades since being a GM... not including this summer.

Disagree, and it's real hard to evaluate him as such because of the hand he inherited in 2009. The best collection of young talent the league had seen in many years—and a cap problem. I think all would agree he's played the hand pretty well. But he's also had some slip-ups. Just hard to say he is and has been the best GM in the league for some time. That is highly debatable.

Other GMs have to build teams into playoff or Cup contenders, Bowman inherited a team that practically coasted it's first Cup the same year.

True, he remolded the roster a bit which led to Cup wins in 2013 and 2015. And he gets credit for that. But the core was already there.

And all the players he dealt or lost in 2010 and 2011 (Byfuglien, Ladd, Campbell, Brouwer, Versteeg, Niemi)? You know what he has to show for ALL those deals in TOTAL today?

(wait for it)

Philip Danault and Gustav Forsling.

No disrespect meant, but you can suspect all you want (as can I), I heard then and since from many high quality sources he definitely had at least one better offer at the draft from the team he eventually made the deal with: Dallas.

When I reported it, there were skeptics. I heard the Hawks rejected Dallas' offer. A DALLAS team official even said then (AFTER the alleged offer was rejected): "we have no interest in Patrick Sharp."

Oh yeah. Right.

Other deals went down, players traded and signed, the Hawks failed to move some salary, and the market eroded.

And Dallas got him for less.
- John Jaeckel

Wow, that's not a very good track record of return on assets. I wonder if that is what is contributing to his procrastination in cases like Sharp; wanting to get more than he has in the past.

I think he deserves credit for bringing in the veterans (Oduya, Handzus, Richards, Vermette, etc.) and some of the young players (Leddy, Saad, Teuvo, etc.) who have rounded out the 2013 and 2015 Stanley Cup Championship teams.

He doesn't suck. I'd say he's pretty good and getting better.

U seem to like to overstate...

I never said they don't use analytics and have for some time...But they don't drown in it.

The Hawks like most in pro sports blend their own analytical cocktail but this isn't close to being a money ball situation as you implied.

Also....Before you crown Bowman as the best around...examine what was here before Bowman took the job and what he netted in trades since being a GM... not including this summer.
- Al

Not sure what "drown" in it means or is even implying. If it means that they use it as a primary means instead of intuition, then I think they are "drowning" in it. It's unrealistic to be dismissive of his results with a supporting cast that is constantly changing.

Glad the Hawks missed on Ehrhoff. Skinner isn't coming to Chicago. The Crawford deal to WPG? For Pavelec? *sigh*.

Bickell is NOT a solid 2-way player. No one is trading for Kane while this mess is going on.
- TTtime

Ehrhoff would be an amazing fit here, there is a good chance skinner does come here, we would be getting a TOP winnipeg prospect, and teams would line up for kane. Hes Patrick Kane

I can share with you now that the Hawks were "in" on Erhoff and CHI was his FIRST choice, but with the Kane matter now, he was likely going to have to wait until AFTER training camp before the Hawks would be able to sign him...thus, the Kings become a good 2nd choice! You are exactly right, these things (Oduya as well) are the result of having your hands tied, which is why Bowman is moving forward with a plan to avoid this from ever happening again.
- MexicoHawk

Such a weird confluence of events. But if at the end of the day they trade Kaner, the help losing his $10m provides toward the above is HUGE.

i fully expect Kaner to be traded before camp. Hawks would be crazy not to move him now if he comes back cleared of all charges. llike others have said one more kaner night out and he is worth nothing.
- SaskHawkFan

Why would you trade him? Assume he's cleared and not charged like Drew Doughty was. This could quite possibly be his last ever run in with the law. Then again, it could not. The end result if he is cleared is you have a dynamic, tremendous player for the next decade. If you do trade him, what could you possibly get in return to match what he is? Teams know that he has baggage and a pending criminal case that could go either way. It's not like the Hawks will get a Crosby for Kane deal or something to that nature. Instead it will be below market value because teams know the Hawks want to unload his baggage and his pending case will be used as leverage against them in any deal they try to make. Ultimately, the Hawks are in wait and see mode and wisely so. You don't want to prematurely get rid of Kane and then have him flourish and hurt you every time you play against his new team or in the playoffs. If he's cleared, the Hawks should handle this internally. Do whatever type of disciplining they need to. Force him into self help programs. Hold him to strict guidelines. Whatever. But from a hockey standpoint, getting rid of him prematurely isn't a wise decision.

Not sure what "drown" in it means or is even implying. If it means that they use it as a primary means instead of intuition, then I think they are "drowning" in it. It's unrealistic to be dismissive of his results with a supporting cast that is constantly changing.
- jfkst1

I wouldn't assume they use it as a primary means of decision making, actually that would not be true. The Hawks tie their analytical person in with being a video analyst... Actually it is a co title and this summer was the first time they actually recognized any analytical person as part of hockey ops.

There is a wealth of knowledge in the Hawks front office...Scotty Bowman, Al MacIsaac who could be a GM in the NHL, Mark Kelley and Barry Smith to name a few...Bowman has a an All Star support team....plus some who left and were immediately promoted to GM jobs.

Bowman isn't a bad GM and he has done a better than average job, but he has some to go before he will be considered in the upper echelon. Now if the Saad trade works well and the Hawks have a big season it would mean a lot toward raising his standing.

Bowman inherited 4 HOF players and has one or two others who could make it as well. Bowman had a lot to work with, but no doubt he deserves credit, just not as much a some who have had a lot less talent on their roster.

BTW, the total silence by Kane for the past three weeks is, as they say, deafening. For instance, anyone who thinks that "the police are investigating something that occurred at his house" means they can hold out hope Kane wasn't involved can give up on that theory. His three week silence means there is fire where we're all hoping for just smoke.

If "nothing happened", we would have been told that a couple weeks ago.

Not a chance. Kane will not be allowed to participate with the team until such time that that any criminal charges are dismissed or the DA decides not to prosecute. Remember, Kane's "out" is his financial ability to enter into a settlement, without the girl's cooperation, any DA would have a very difficult time trying to prosecute this case. From what I have been told, the young woman has a very solid case against Patrick Kane, and thus everyday she decides against a settlement it puts more and more pressure upon Patrick Kane, and the "price" goes up. I am certain that at this point (with the rape kit results still not released) Kane's attorneys are trying to reach a settlement with the young ladies' representatives.

But remember, Rocky Wirtz is well aware of the situation Patrick Kane put himself into...so settlement or not, the Hawks are very concerned about Kane moving forward.
- MexicoHawk

Well that's the first time I've heard that the woman has a strong case against Kane, if that's the case, I'd say there's zero chance he plays in Chicago again.

Why would you trade him? Assume he's cleared and not charged like Drew Doughty was. This could quite possibly be his last ever run in with the law. Then again, it could not. The end result if he is cleared is you have a dynamic, tremendous player for the next decade. If you do trade him, what could you possibly get in return to match what he is? Teams know that he has baggage and a pending criminal case that could go either way. It's not like the Hawks will get a Crosby for Kane deal or something to that nature. Instead it will be below market value because teams know the Hawks want to unload his baggage and his pending case will be used as leverage against them in any deal they try to make. Ultimately, the Hawks are in wait and see mode and wisely so. You don't want to prematurely get rid of Kane and then have him flourish and hurt you every time you play against his new team or in the playoffs. If he's cleared, the Hawks should handle this internally. Do whatever type of disciplining they need to. Force him into self help programs. Hold him to strict guidelines. Whatever. But from a hockey standpoint, getting rid of him prematurely isn't a wise decision.
- Shamz24

like they apparenlty did after incidents in 2012? its time to move on send him east for a nice package as i fully think that if he is cleared they will get market value. do you replace him no but can you fill holes and get something valuable moving forward Cap space yes!