So I keep hearing the phrase "fair return" or "even return" or things of the like.

That is completely irrelevant.

If everything disappears in the next few weeks and the Hawks feel like they need to part ways, then they will do so in a fashion that still affords them the opportunity to win.

While Patrick Kane can't be directly replaced, and I would argue he is a top 5 talent in the league and other than Crosby and Malkin probably the most exciting to watch, the Hawks can still make a trade that puts them in a position to compete for a Cup. That is 100% fact. Yes it removes a dynamic and some clutch scoring but it isn't like nothing will be coming back the other way.

This situation is BEYOND what happens on the ice. First, there is the accusation of a heinous crime that needs to get sorted out legally. Second, depending on that outcome, it is 100% a judgement call by the Hawks front office and probably mostly Rocky to determine what course of action to take with the player.

Hockey is irrelevant at this point. There are some people issues that need to get sorted out first and foremost and that will take priority over anything else.

I think the cbj were crazy to give saad that much cash and trade what they did for him. I get trying to lock up the rfa’s to longer term deals if you’re sure of what you’re getting but I would have thought a 2 year bridge deal for 3.5 would have been a much better option than handing over 6 mil per right away. Hawks did very well in that situation by moving him and getting great value in return. I’m not sold on Saad being worth that contract and you ended up getting multiple assets for him.
- Isles_since_6

Saad playing 1st unit PP minutes probably gets a 30/30 season if he stays healthy...

is smoking cigs a disease?
replace the word alcohol with cig in your sentences....same thing....just doesn't have a "disease" name associated with smoking
- Confederate

Smoking cigs and drinking alcohol is a behavior that most people can handle in moderation. But see the post above from Walleye quoting the medical profession in which actual biochemical and physiological reactions take place, sometimes after even one cigarette or one drink. The disease name is then "addiction to alcohol" AKA "alcoholism" or "addition to nicotine" AKA _______. Well, I guess there's not a good word that comes to mind to talk about the "nicotinism" that affects the lives of so many "nicotinics."

Maybe without Kane and no replacement.

But if you got 2 players worth 5 mil or a 6.5 and a 4 mil player you guys probably could.
- ezekial

I look at it like this, what is equal value in replacing Kane for this specific Hawks team? No combination of players. The Hawks already have a deep, talented roster with plenty of role players. What you would need is a legit world class superstar of the highest order. I mean, how is that gonna happen? Are they gonna trade him straight up for Crosby, Malkin, Stamkos, Ovi or a clone of Toews? Nope. So right there its already downhill. The window to win and sustain the dynasty is NOW, and the Hawks have an elite weapon and matchup nightmare in the form of being able to roll out 2 GREAT lines that could easily be top lines. The luxury of having 2 superstars, not to mention what they have proven they can do individually during the post season, is what can't be replaced no matter what package you get back.

Hawks CAN NOT replace Kane's function on this team. It will not happen any time soon if he is traded. We would still be a great team, a very deep team. But not quite as elite.

There is a lot more to the addiction issue than most people think. Have you heard about this latest research? The conclusions include 1) that the opposite of addiction is not sobriety, it is human connection, and 2) it is not the rat who is to blame, it is the cage!

It's interesting to consider Patrick Kane's situation - what we know of it, anyway - from this perspective; especially what help he might need.

http://www.huffingtonpost...of-addicti_b_6506936.html
- matt_ahrens

This is very interesting. Did Pat Kane actually want to play basketball, his own "Rat Park?" Hockey is just how he deals with his inner frustration?

Wow looks like it's open season on Patrick Kane:

What to do about Patrick Kane?

WRITTEN BY RICK TELANDER POSTED: 09/01/2015, 04:57PM

http://chicago.suntimes.c.../7/71/925794/patrick-kane

Another angle to all of this is that for Kane - who's by all accounts a committed rink rat and a true lover of playing the game - being prevented from playing is a sort of punishment all its own.
- Marlowe

You are absolutely correct

Wow looks like it's open season on Patrick Kane:

What to do about Patrick Kane?

WRITTEN BY RICK TELANDER POSTED: 09/01/2015, 04:57PM

http://chicago.suntimes.c.../7/71/925794/patrick-kane
- walleyeb1

And Telander is right on the mark in this column.

Kane for Kopitar...get it done Stan!

@NHLonNBCSports: Kings, Kopitar ‘not even in the ballpark’ on new contract http://t.co/WkUvseNsAO

This is very interesting. Did Pat Kane actually want to play basketball, his own "Rat Park?" Hockey is just how he deals with his inner frustration?
- DMChi2010

I think he's at his best on the ice. Probably always has been.

And Telander is right on the mark in this column.
- TexasFlood

No - he isn't.

Kane is likely not going to be at the flag-raising ceremony.

But Toews, Hossa, Kruger, Terravainen, Shaw (presumably), Desjardins, eKith, Seabrook, Hjalmarsson, Van Riemsdyk, Crawford, Darling will be. And Quenville. They won the Cup, too - and they had nothing to do with whatever happened in Buffalo.

Too bad Sharp and Saad and Oduya - AND Kane - won't be, but if we can't cheer for those still here - Stanley Cup Champions - and feel good about them winning the Cup, then we've become much too cynical to be sports fans.

Add in Panarin, Dano, Tikhonov, Daley, Anisimov - with or without Kane it's going to be an interesting and fun winter watching the defending champs try to put it together again.

There have reportedly been a minimum of five teams that have inquired to the Chicago Blackhawks about the availability of Patrick Kane.
Kane is under investigation for an incident that allegedly occurred at his residence on August 2nd. According to media reports, Kane is being accused of raping a woman. No charges have been pressed. He signed an eight-year, $84-million contract, which is scheduled to begin this season.

No - he isn't.

Kane is likely not going to be at the flag-raising ceremony.

But Toews, Hossa, Kruger, Terravainen, Shaw (presumably), Desjardins, eKith, Seabrook, Hjalmarsson, Van Riemsdyk, Crawford, Darling will be. And Quenville. They won the Cup, too - and they had nothing to do with whatever happened in Buffalo.

Too bad Sharp and Saad and Oduya - AND Kane - won't be, but if we can't cheer for those still here - Stanley Cup Champions - and feel good about them winning the Cup, then we've become much too cynical to be sports fans.

Add in Panarin, Dano, Tikhonov, Daley, Anisimov - with or without Kane it's going to be an interesting and fun winter watching the defending champs try to put it together again.
- StLBravesFan

I believe his main point was that The Kane incident has cast a cloud over the proceedings of the night, and also a pall over the Hawks to start the season until this is resolved. Hard to disagree with that.

But I do agree the roster changes will make for quite the interesting season.

Yup, that's right guys, jus keep on convincing yourselves that we'd be fine without Kane...

I wonder what everyone would say the day after we won the Cup if I asked, "So, who out there thinks we'd be okay if we traded Kane?"

Nothing has changed as far as the team on the ice goes.

Trade 88 and its bye bye dynasty.
- SimpleJack

So just a question do you think the oilers said that in 88 after possibly the greatest hockey player to play the game was traded? hmmm didn't they win a cup not but 2 years later, with some of the pieces recieved in the trade. So if a dynasty like edmonton can trade its best player and still win why can't the hawks?

You know what really ticks me off about this whole situation is we should be celebrating our 3rd stanley cup in 6 years. Instead we are discussing possible charges against one of our Core players who helped. Regardless of the outcome of this Kaner has ruined the summer for me and im just a fan. Imagine how his teammates feel, and management does because of his actions.

You are not saying a former Blackhawk turned pilot was an alcoholic?
- powerenforcer

No, I am not

I believe his main point was that The Kane incident has cast a cloud over the proceedings of the night, and also a pall over the Hawks to start the season until this is resolved. Hard to disagree with that.

But I do agree the roster changes will make for quite the interesting season.
- TexasFlood

And your first paragraph is what I disagree with: lots of Hawk champions will be on the ice who had nothing to do with the Kane incident - I'll feel good about them.

sorry jj, disagree
alcoholism is a behavioral issue. change in behavior makes the problem go away
type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune issue - pancreas stop producing insulin. requires multiple insulin injections per day to keep the person alive. no change in behavior will make the issue go away.
type 2 diabetes, pancreas still functions. change in life style does have a dramatic effect on symptoms and treatment - completely different than type 1
- Confederate

Yeah, I have worked in diabetes treatment (professional marketing for Humalog, Novolog, Byetta and other drugs—well acquainted with disease state and treatment) for several years and have done extensive clinical volunteer work with alcoholics and addicts.

So I know all three topics quite well.

Produce for me a licensed physician (not the Dr. Nick Riviera variety or some whacko running for office) or really any clinician who actually works in addiction who says alcoholism is not a disease.

Right.

Thanks for the lecture, but no thanks.

He only has gotten in trouble twice... Madison was just drunk and stupid!
- moots

Cab driver, Madison, latest incident (3 times—publicized at least—involving alcohol). After Madison, he promised he would change his ways.

not knowing when to stop drinking is not a disease, its a behavioral issue. putting a title on it doesn't make it one either
- Confederate

This is wrong. Alcoholics are physically compelled to continue drinking. That's their disease. It is not a character issue.

The managed care industry, the AMA, 95% (at least) of the doctors practicing medicine in this country all agree alcoholism is a disease.

But they're wrong. You're right.

HI MEX!

HOPE ALL IS WELL SOUTH OF THE BORDER!

I DISAGREE VEHEMENTLY WITH THIS ENTIRE LINE OF THINKING, BUT I'D LOVE THE CHANCE TO HAVE YOU HELP ME UNDERSTAND HOW TRADING A TOP END OFFENSIVE TALENT, WHO HAS PROVEN TO BE AS CLUTCH OF A PLAYER AS THERE CURRENTLY IS IN THE LEAGUE, COULD POSSIBLY MAKE THE TEAM BETTER? IT'S PRETTY WELL ACCEPTED PREMISE THAT THE TEAM GIVING UP THE BEST PLAYER IN THE TRADE USUALLY COMES OUT ON THE SHORT END OF THE TRADING STICK...AT LEAST IN THE SHORT TERM. YEAH YOU MIGHT GET MULTIPLE ASSETS BACK, BUT ARE ANY OF THEM GOING TO SCORE AT A PPG CLIP THIS YEAR? EVEN COLLECTIVELY CAN THEY SCORE AT A PPG CLIP?

IF SAAD, SHARP, AND JOHNNY O WERE STILL IN THE FOLD, I'D BE A LOT MORE INCLINED TO SEE THE WISDOM IN SHEDDING KANERS CAP HIT.

AGAIN, ALL OF THIS IS CONTINGENT ON KANE BEING A FREE MAN COME OCTOBER, BUT I FAIL TO SEE HOW TRADING KANE BENEFITS THE TEAM IN THE SHORT TERM.

HAVE A GREAT DAY AMIGO.
- Ogilthorpe2

The missing piece in your analysis is the salary cap. What if Kane had a $30m cap hit, would you agree then that the team might be better with a few more good players than one superstar? It isn't just the players or draft picks that come back for Kane, it's the strength of the roster top to bottom with and without him.

It really doesn't matter what you call it. Alcoholism destroys lives, and you don't beat it, you just treat it. I've always felt it was more akin to an allergy, but an allergy that you get addicted to. That's enough like a disease for me.
- DirkGraham

There are many who understand the disease who see it in just this manner Thanks Duke.

i'd agree by and large confederate, however, once the person's body is addicted to alcohol, there are brain chemistry and physiological issues that take hold and make it difficult for the person to just 'quit'...

becoming an alcoholic can be prevented by responsible partaking of alcohol, so it is behavioural, but changing your behaviour after becoming an addict is the issue and then it takes more than just will power, imo...
- kaptaan

This is true for some, but not all. There are literally some people who have had no control over alcohol from virtually the very first time alcohol touches their lips.

The medical profession begs to differ:

According to the American Medical Association, National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), The National Institutes of Health, The World Health Organization, The American Psychiatric Association and numerous other organizations in the scientific and medical fields, addiction is now known to be a chronic and progressive brain disease that attacks and damages key parts of the limbic system and cerebral cortex, which in turn results in compulsive cravings, obsessive seekings, and irrational over-use despite harmful and often devastating consequences.

Addiction is considered a brain disease because alcohol and drugs literally change the brain chemically, structurally and functionally. While it’s true that for most people the initial decision to partake of alcohol or drugs is voluntary, over time these substances literally change numerous aspects of the brain to the point where the individual cannot stop using or drinking even if the desire to do so is high.
- walleyeb1

Ha, well said

Addiction is a disease, it doesn't matter what you are addicted to - drugs, alcohol, work, sex, video games, cigarettes.....
- DarthKane

True, alcohol just tends to cause pronounced metabolic changes and makes people do really stupid things