How do you know Kane and Toews would have signed for $9.5M?
- paulr

No kidding! I'm always amazed at the people who automatically think they would've signed these under market value contracts. Teams don't retain good players by lowballing them. One could argue they've been underpaid their entire careers up until their new contracts (and I happen to think if they were UFAs on the market today, they probably would get more than what they're making right now). Good players get paid, and for a good team, unless you have a bunch of players on ELC's, you're always going to be dancing around the cap.

Onto the topic at hand, I always thought unless Kane was actually convicted of something, he was going to remain a Hawk. Here's hoping this episode finally gets rid of these stupid impulses he has because it's costing him money and trust.

http://www.secondcityhockey.com/2015/9/1/9227837/how-can-we-still-be-proud-to-root-for-the-blackhawks-patrick-kane-rape-investigation

not a fan of this article. (sorry if this is a repost)
- BURDA13

Guilty until proven innocent. That is the premise to which that article - and some of the comments too - is based. I won't surmise (pun intended) as to what invokes said premise. Suffice to say, I take writings like this with a grain of salt.

IMO, this is exactly right. The Hawks should use this as the opportunity that presented itself to move forward out of perpetual cap hell. Trading Kane should bring back two very good to excellent pieces, should make them much better on D, even deeper at Centre, allow them to add Kruger to the core (where he belongs), extend Seabrook and Shaw, keep Crawford long term, should they choose to, "afford" to trade away Bickell's contract and still have significant Cap space moving forward. The Hawks didn't "ask" for this to happen, but it did...this is a crucial event for the Hawks short term AND long term.
- MexicoHawk

Way too early. This type of knee jerk reaction only perpetuates the notion one is guilty before proven innocent.

I would think SAAD and BUFF for Kane is pretty close to Fair value IMO. What do people think would be fair value. In regard to K and T not accepting 9.5. 1st is no one knew when they signed that the CDL was going to drop 25%. after they signed. at the time everybody talked about how the Cap was going to jump 6-7 Mil (for this coming year. But even at 10.5 and 75 mil in cap that is probably 2 high for 2 player's on the same team. Maybe K and T played hard ball and squeezed every penny out of him but my guess is he could have had more dialogue and sold them on how if they want to compete for ST every year there needs to be a balance. I don't think making 2 players on the same team the highest players in the league should be insulting to either of them. Even at 9.6 makes both of them the highest in the league. did they both need to be paid almost a mil over the next highest player?

did they both need to be paid almost a mil over the next highest player?
- kmw4631

Yes

There is always a discount signing player's a year early over letting them go to FA. Would you take 8 yr 80 mil in 6/15 or wait and hope that a team you actually want to play for can offer you a 7 year 81 mil deal on 7/16. Every person would take the 1st one. What if you got Hurt? What if the only team willing to spend that was a team you did not want to play for? Signing a contract over a year early has lots of value and signing a contract one year longer also does. IMO there should have been more of a discount.

There is always a discount signing player's a year early over letting them go to FA.
- kmw4631

No

Pretty intresting piece from Lazerus: http://chicago.suntimes.c...ider-trading-patrick-kane

At least five teams contacted the Hawks once the Buffalo News first reported the investigation — which involves Kane and a woman at his Hamburg home — and said they’d be willing trade partners should the Hawks decide to cut ties with their superstar winger, according to a league source. The 26-year-old is entering the first year of a record-setting eight-year, $84-million contract.

IMO, this is exactly right. The Hawks should use this as the opportunity that presented itself to move forward out of perpetual cap hell. Trading Kane should bring back two very good to excellent pieces, should make them much better on D, even deeper at Centre, allow them to add Kruger to the core (where he belongs), extend Seabrook and Shaw, keep Crawford long term, should they choose to, "afford" to trade away Bickell's contract and still have significant Cap space moving forward. The Hawks didn't "ask" for this to happen, but it did...this is a crucial event for the Hawks short term AND long term.
- MexicoHawk

I'm not of the opinion that this "opportunity" should be used as you suggest. There are many facets to this, pros and cons, but the bottom line for me is the Hawks will be a better team with Kane than without Kane. I just don't have a "sky is falling" mindset should Kane get traded because there are positives in that scenario too, as have been detailed many times.

If the rape allegation had never happened, would we be looking to rectify our Cap situation by trading Kane? I wouldn't think so. So it comes down to whether Rocky wants Kane on the team or not. If he decides (personally or by proxy) that the organization is better with Kane traded - I'm OK with that. But I hope it ends up with Kane still a member of the Hawks, even with the resultant ongoing Cap struggles.

I'm going a bit off topic here, but there is a new site similar to capgeek that has been made.

www.generalfanager.com

Seems legitimate to me in my time browsing around.

Pretty intresting piece from Lazerus: http://chicago.suntimes.c...ider-trading-patrick-kane
- MjulQvist

Another way I am looking at this, Stan is in the drivers seat when talking to these clubs. Worst case, he does not trade Kane. He can basically say, "How bad do you want Kane?" and have the teams bid against themselves. If none of the offers are any good, he says thanks but no thanks.

Get 'er done Stan!

...and there's no doubt these 5 teams will look to get Kane at a discount given the situation.

@theScoreNHL: Report: 5 teams have contacted Blackhawks about potential Kane trade http://t.co/LMEanR5Fkk http://t.co/TOAe1edkeI

Hi JJ!

Like the stuff you wrote today, a lot of it makes sense...my only question, has the front office had discussions with Kane or his agent on what they want of him now...I understand that before the last contract they made it clear what is expected of him, but have they told him anything now? Something along the lines of a rehab or program or something similar, along with hanging out less with the crowd that he seems to get in trouble with? I'm not saying it his friends or cousin/s at fault, he did each and every one of these things himself, so he is to blame, but I know from quite a few people who claim that his group of buddies aren't the best influence either

Trading Kane right now would signal that the organization believes he is guilty and will not even wait to see what happens. I don't think Chicago will do that. That's not how they run things.

From what I have read I am getting the impression that Kane isn't going for a settlement. This means:

1. He is either too stubborn to think he did anything wrong; or

2. He really didn't do anything wrong and will fight to clear his name.

Either way, there just isn't any way anyone can make a call on this yet. It'll have to play out. I'm hoping it doesn't drag on well into the season, because lets be realistic, the Hawks are MUCH better off with Kane in the lineup than without.

IMO, this is exactly right. The Hawks should use this as the opportunity that presented itself to move forward out of perpetual cap hell. Trading Kane should bring back two very good to excellent pieces, should make them much better on D, even deeper at Centre, allow them to add Kruger to the core (where he belongs), extend Seabrook and Shaw, keep Crawford long term, should they choose to, "afford" to trade away Bickell's contract and still have significant Cap space moving forward. The Hawks didn't "ask" for this to happen, but it did...this is a crucial event for the Hawks short term AND long term.
- MexicoHawk

On this one I totally disagree with you. None of the people they get back can take the place of Kane(IMO( If he straightens out he will still be the face of the club and definitely is one of the top superstars in the NHL. No one they get back can be as spectacular as Kane

right. Hypothetically, you could trade him for Sidney Crosby and save some cap space! Obviously that's not going to happen but Kane could fetch some valuable pieces in a trade. Remember, the Oilers won a cup without Gretzky and the Kings have won a couple without Kane. There is no rule that says he is the only route to the Stanley Cup.
- DirkGraham

Lots of teams have won without Kane. I'd even say the majority of them have...

Dissecting the Lazerus article:

http://thecommittedindian...erfeed&utm_medium=twitter

No Plea Negotiations or Settlement Talks, or so they say. Who knows how credible this little paper is!


http://www.niagarafallsre...2015/SEP01/KaneSept1.html

Lots of teams have won without Kane. I'd even say the majority of them have...
- SolidGoldBricks

Not since 2010.

No, not really. It's the issue of being a bad drunk, having negative consequences result from the drinking, and continuing to drink anyway.
- patorioto

I don't see the difference. I think we're strenuously agreeing.

alcoholism is not a disease...type 1 diabetes, cancer, pkd, ...those are diseases.
By labeling alcoholism as a disease, it takes away all personal responsibility for their actions - which seems to be the new normal. Nobody is responsible for what they CHOOSE to do and everyone gets a participation medal for being able to breathe


- Confederate

Uh, yeah, with all due respect, it is a disease.

There are data which support a genetic predisposition, linkage to hand dominance (a very high percentage of alcoholics and addicts are left-handed for example), very high incidence among certain ethnic groups that goes beyond "not being responsible." Like native americans, for example.

It is in some ways like the predisposition toward Type 2 diabetes, unless you're also insinuating that's not a disease and people not taking responsibility, which is also inaccurate.

If he was doing it every night, or even frequently, then I would agree, but that's not happening, or we would know about it by now. Getting blitzed and out of hand once or twice a year does not make one an alcoholic...it just makes him an idiot. He's been in town what, 8ish years? How many alcohol related incidents have there been that we know of? 2? Maybe 3 if we count the cab incident? I highly doubt a true alcoholic scores at a PPG pace...and I don't want to hear any of that "functioning alcoholic" nonsense. He does more than just function...he execels.
- Ogilthorpe2

Why? Do any of us crib with Kaner, yo?

If he was doing it every night, or even frequently, then I would agree, but that's not happening, or we would know about it by now. Getting blitzed and out of hand once or twice a year does not make one an alcoholic...it just makes him an idiot. He's been in town what, 8ish years? How many alcohol related incidents have there been that we know of? 2? Maybe 3 if we count the cab incident? I highly doubt a true alcoholic scores at a PPG pace...and I don't want to hear any of that "functioning alcoholic" nonsense. He does more than just function...he execels.
- Ogilthorpe2

So were you a Hawk fan in the 60s and 70s?

I also hate to break it to you (and everyone), but a lot of commercial airline pilots are functional alcoholics—until they get help, or worse.

Look out below.

One company (EA sports).
- biegs

Highly unlikely he will be doing any adds for the Chicago Chevy Dealers. Looks like only Toews will be driving Chevy this year.

And the Niagra Fall Reporter article (bottom of Page 7), references a Forbes article that states Kane has lost $15 M over the last 5 years in endorsement income due to behavior issues.

Not exactly chump change.

...and there's no doubt these 5 teams will look to get Kane at a discount given the situation.

@theScoreNHL: Report: 5 teams have contacted Blackhawks about potential Kane trade http://t.co/LMEanR5Fkk http://t.co/TOAe1edkeI
- DarthKane

At least 5 teams.