I think for a player to be suspended without being charged or even if charged it has to be part of the NHL code of conduct. To get something written into the coc the players association would not agree. Remember, hockey isn't only their sport, it's their livelihoods. They get paid well yes, but so do solicitors, politicians, GM's, CEO etc. If a CEO does what Kane has (whatever that may be), would he be suspended from work? It also depends on the organisations policies - if the CEO doesn't get suspended for the same thing why should a player?

As for being expelled from the NHL, I disagree. Any player should be lawfully sanctioned along with whatever is in the NHL policies but still should be able to ply his trade after those sanctions are complete. Now the question would be whether or not a NHL team would employ that player - I have no doubt that Kane or even Voynov would have takers - probably just a reduced number of options.

It's their employment & everyone has a right to be employed. It's just your options are reduced once you start to take them for granted.
- Aussiepenguin

Don't confuse a sports league with a democracy or corporate America. Kane will be suspended.

why shouldn't it be in Chicago then?
- Pie

I said it doesn't mean Kane will be play here...It all depends on what the conclusion is and also I'm not saying Kane will be immediately traded.

The point is Kane if not convicted will play in the NHL and will be embraced by a fan base somewhere....Just like all the others I mentioned.

Ray Rice might be the only one not able to come and play again but his career was sliding before the incident.

There is a + in there which I would assume would be substantial. So it is NOT Bickell and either Seabrook or Hammer for just Skinner and Hanifin. And I hope I am way off base but if there is another Hawk with a substantial cap hit going the other way then tell me who would that be and for what.
- FourOrr

I think the + would be on Chicago's end of the deal. Word was before that Chicago would most likely have to add a sweetener to more Bickel and his contract and there would be no guarantee Seabrook would resign in Carolina. Why would Carolina move Skinner (yes, high cap hit but he still has value) and this years #4 pick Hanafin ?

By toxic do you mean like Mike Tyson toxic or Michael Vick toxic or Ben Roethlisberger toxiv, or Ray Rice toxic or Floyd Mayweather toxic or Ray Lewis toxic???....And I could keep going.

If Kane isn't convicted of a crime he will continue to play in the NHL, and somewhere people will cheer him, just like all the others. But that doesn't mean Kane will be playing for the Blackhawks.
- Al

See my post below. My comments are based on sponsors of the Hawks not wanting Kane in the organisation. Now am I saying ALL organisations won't want him - I truly believe that ALL corporate sponsors won't want him in the organisations they sponsor but I 'think' he will find somewhere to play where an organisation will have very specific & tight regulations on his behaviour that will be closely monitored & the organisations sponsors will have those assurances. Doubt as you say that that will be with the Hawks especially after what JJ has written.

I said it doesn't mean Kane will be play here...It all depends on what the conclusion is and also I'm not saying Kane will be immediately traded.

The point is Kane if not convicted will play in the NHL and will be embraced by a fan base somewhere....Just like all the others I mentioned.

Ray Rice might be the only one not able to come and play again but his career was sliding before the incident.
- Al

Don't tell me about other leagues. NHL has little man syndrome...If he is traded odds are that team becomes heatley'd

Don't confuse a sports league with a democracy or corporate America. Kane will be suspended.
- Al

It all depends what is written in the contracts. Has Voynov been suspended or terminated by the Kings? I believe the NHL has suspended him due to the charges?? but the Kings have not over the spousal abuse - he's been suspended due to his injury.

By what you imply the Hawks will suspend Kane & Kings 'should' suspend/terminate Voynov.

See my post below. My comments are based on sponsors of the Hawks not wanting Kane in the organisation. Now am I saying ALL organisations won't want him - I truly believe that ALL corporate sponsors won't want him in the organisations they sponsor but I 'think' he will find somewhere to play where an organisation will have very specific & tight regulations on his behaviour that will be closely monitored & the organisations sponsors will have those assurances. Doubt as you say that that will be with the Hawks especially after what JJ has written.
- Aussiepenguin

If Kane isn't convicted my point stands....Did the LA Kings lose any sponsors with the Doughty incident...Has Colorado with the wife beater Varlamov?

The Hawks will decide what to do based on the results of the investigation...If they trade Kane it won't be because sponsors will threaten to leave it will be because they don't trust him and don't want the brand risk moving forward.

Kane lost the EA cover gig because that company doesn't need to take a chance he is convicted with the game in circulations...Others will follow suits if it is going to trial or he is convicted.

The Hawks at some point also will decide if they don't need more risk moving forward.

It all depends what is written in the contracts. Has Voynov been suspended or terminated by the Kings? I believe the NHL has suspended him due to the charges?? but the Kings have not over the spousal abuse - he's been suspended due to his injury.

By what you imply the Hawks will suspend Kane & Kings 'should' suspend/terminate Voynov.
- Aussiepenguin

I'm fairly certain they could suspend Kane but pay him until the investigation is concluded.

He won't be here being a distraction-One way or the other.

It all depends what is written in the contracts. Has Voynov been suspended or terminated by the Kings? I believe the NHL has suspended him due to the charges?? but the Kings have not over the spousal abuse - he's been suspended due to his injury.

By what you imply the Hawks will suspend Kane & Kings 'should' suspend/terminate Voynov.
- Aussiepenguin

A team can't suspend a player for being injured.

How about Bickel and Seabrook for Skinner, Hanifin, Fleury, Lindholm, E Staal, J Staal, Faulk, Cam Newton, Michael Jordan, Mike Krzysewski and a carton of Newports?

If Kane isn't convicted my point stands....Did the LA Kings lose any sponsors with the Doughty incident...Has Colorado with the wife beater Varlamov?

The Hawks will decide what to do based on the results of the investigation...If they trade Kane it won't be because sponsors will threaten to leave it will be because they don't trust him and don't want the brand risk moving forward.

Kane lost the EA cover gig because that company doesn't need to take a chance he is convicted with the game in circulations...Others will follow suits if it is going to trial or he is convicted.

The Hawks at some point also will decide if they don't need more risk moving forward.
- Al

I don't know what sponsors are doing in any of the organisations. I'm commenting based on what I understand JJ is saying in his blog & what I've seen in the past with sponsors not wanting to tarnish their brand due to someone they sponsor.

It's pretty big when an internationally distributed enterprise remove a player from its product - it sets the bar for other sponsors whether they like it or not.

I think that sponsors will have input in what the Hawks do - but again that is just my opinion. Will we ever know if a sponsor withdraws their support?

Section 18-A.5 of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, provides that, during the pendency of a criminal investigation, "The League may suspend the Player pending the League's formal review and disposition of the matter where the failure to suspend the Player during this period would create a substantial risk of material harm to the legitimate interests and/or reputation of the League."

A team can't suspend a player for being injured.
- Al

From memory is was what he was doing when injured - & no it wasn't when he was bashing the poop out of his Mrs.

Section 18-A.5 of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, provides that, during the pendency of a criminal investigation, "The League may suspend the Player pending the League's formal review and disposition of the matter where the failure to suspend the Player during this period would create a substantial risk of material harm to the legitimate interests and/or reputation of the League."
- walleyeb1

Exactly. Which is why I agree with Al - if there isn't a positive resolution to the pending investigation by the time training camp starts, Kane will be suspended. Right now there's no hockey and nothing other than the very non-informative police statement so no need to suspend, but once hockey starts back up they will have no choice.

Section 18-A.5 of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, provides that, during the pendency of a criminal investigation, "The League may suspend the Player pending the League's formal review and disposition of the matter where the failure to suspend the Player during this period would create a substantial risk of material harm to the legitimate interests and/or reputation of the League."
- walleyeb1

Is a 'criminal investigation' after charges are made? As it stands now they are investigating claims of rape, does that amount to a criminal investigation?

I'm intrigued by the potential trade with the Jets. JJ - you said a top (and I mean top) prospect. Looking at the Jets' top prospects, only 3 would seem to rise to that level of emphasis - Ehlers (LW), Morrissey (D) and Hellbuyck (G). Ehlers is dynamic but another 170lbs guys. Morrissey missed all last season with an injury. And the goalie is a 22 year old goalie so that's always a crap shoot. If Morrissey is healthy with a positive prognosis - he's the guy I would like.

The issue with a Kane for 3-4-5 player scenario is there are only so many roster spots and...That would be a huge deal from the standpoint of breaking up the best team in the game which already has quite a few new faces.

Can't see that happening right away. Also can't see anyone trading for Kane now, becasue on the worse end of things is the possibility his career is effectively over.

As I have been saying for awhile the odds favor Kane being suspended to begin the season unless this all blows away.
- Al

I agree that nothing is going to happen right away. His legal situation needs to be most resolved first; meaning, he needs to be cleared of the worst of the charges so other teams would know what they are getting.

And i agree that moving Kane further breaks up the 14-15 Stanley Cup Champs. It's already significantly different with Sharp, Saad, Richards, Vermette, and Oduya already gone and at least one of Bickell, Versteeg, and Shaw probably leaving soon. That's a lot to replace. I'm optimistic about the new guys but even with Kane, this team is significantly different. Is it a cup contender still? Probably, but guys need to step up and chemistry needs to be established.

So I think the counterargument is that this team has a lot of bonding to do anyway, why not make the big move now and start that processes without Kane?

There is a + in there which I would assume would be substantial. So it is NOT Bickell and either Seabrook or Hammer for just Skinner and Hanifin. And I hope I am way off base but if there is another Hawk with a substantial cap hit going the other way then tell me who would that be and for what.
- FourOrr

Your + was on Carolina's end in the original post. I apologize if I misunderstood but I read it as "Skinner + hanifin +" for "Seabrook OR Hammer + Bickell. Which is insane.

Exactly. Which is why I agree with Al - if there isn't a positive resolution to the pending investigation by the time training camp starts, Kane will be suspended. Right now there's no hockey and nothing other than the very non-informative police statement so no need to suspend, but once hockey starts back up they will have no choice.
- Marlowe

What difference is there (besides to the actual playing group which my understanding isn't listed in the above mentioned clause), between now & when training camp starts? If he is going to be suspended & the investigation doesn't change why wait till training camp starts? Where is the difference? The clause isn't based on 'impact to the team'? If nothing changes there should be no change in his status - ie; no suspension & he turns up to train, based on what you have said above.

By toxic do you mean like Mike Tyson toxic or Michael Vick toxic or Ben Roethlisberger toxic, or Ray Rice toxic or Floyd Mayweather toxic or Ray Lewis toxic???....And I could keep going.

If Kane isn't convicted of a crime he will continue to play in the NHL, and somewhere people will cheer him, just like all the others. But that doesn't mean Kane will be playing for the Blackhawks.
- Al

Well, Mike Tyson went to jail and Michael Vick spent some time out of the NFL. If things go badly for Patrick, either of those things could happen. Not saying he will be jailed or thrown out of the league, but those remain possibilities.

Is a 'criminal investigation' after charges are made? As it stands now they are investigating claims of rape, does that amount to a criminal investigation?
- Aussiepenguin

I think what is happening now. I pulled this from a law reference website:

a criminal investigation refers to the process of collecting information (or evidence) about a crime in order to: (1) determine if a crime has been committed; (2) identify the perpetrator; (3) apprehend the perpetrator; and (4) provide evidence to support a conviction in court.

How about Bickel and Seabrook for Skinner, Hanifin, Fleury, Lindholm, E Staal, J Staal, Faulk, Cam Newton, Michael Jordan, Mike Krzysewski and a carton of Newports?
- Snowblind

So what do you think JJ means when he wrote:
"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."
But of course I'll take your generous offer unless you have something even better to offer.

What difference is there (besides to the actual playing group which my understanding isn't listed in the above mentioned clause), between now & when training camp starts? If he is going to be suspended & the investigation doesn't change why wait till training camp starts? Where is the difference? The clause isn't based on 'impact to the team'? If nothing changes there should be no change in his status - ie; no suspension & he turns up to train, based on what you have said above.
- Aussiepenguin

I think the reason to wait is to see if any more information comes to light before training camp starts. But, it seems legitimate for the league to have suspended him already.

Today @ 8:43 PM ET
been expecting this...

1. To quiet for to long

2. Camp is 3 weeks away

Something has to "give" and very soon....and most likely when it does and StanBow moves it will be something none of us saw coming ala adios Saad.

also I am sure #88 has exhibited poor decision making and behaviour a number of times that never made it the public square.

if he has had such issues since coming to the hawks the question is why have not his family or the hawks intervened to "force" him into help and treatment....

now everyone gotten bitten in the ass by him....

Two summers ago, right before the lockout, the Hawks had a major sitdown with Kane and his family. One Blackhawk executive came out of this meeting stating that after meeting with the parents, he realized the apple did not fall far from the tree.

I think for a player to be suspended without being charged or even if charged it has to be part of the NHL code of conduct. To get something written into the coc the players association would not agree. Remember, hockey isn't only their sport, it's their livelihoods. They get paid well yes, but so do solicitors, politicians, GM's, CEO etc. If a CEO does what Kane has (whatever that may be), would he be suspended from work? It also depends on the organisations policies - if the CEO doesn't get suspended for the same thing why should a player?

As for being expelled from the NHL, I disagree. Any player should be lawfully sanctioned along with whatever is in the NHL policies but still should be able to ply his trade after those sanctions are complete. Now the question would be whether or not a NHL team would employ that player - I have no doubt that Kane or even Voynov would have takers - probably just a reduced number of options.

It's their employment & everyone has a right to be employed. It's just your options are reduced once you start to take them for granted.
- Aussiepenguin

Not under a free enterprise, employment at will set up in the USA. Possible he'll be protected by the Union, regardless of the legal outcome.