With Kane coming to camp, could it be the Hawks know he is guilty of putting himself in a bad position once again but nothing nearly as sinister as rape? That seems to be a much stronger possibility now if I am reading this correctly. I gotta assume the brass has talked to the right people involved and know the skinny. Otherwise, if they were in the fog on probable outcomes they would be risking icing a felon wearing the Hawks sweater, and what a black eye that would be.

So, assuming Kane is dumb but not guilty of rape...how to handle this?

Speaking purely from a hockey standpoint, it makes sense to me to get this over with as early as possible, at the onset of camp, with the realization there will be a media circus whether he comes back now, a month from now, or halfway through the season. If he is sidelined with a team imposed suspension or leave of absence, there will be Kane questions asked in every post game interview. "When is Kane coming back?" "How bad do you miss Kane's contributions right now?" "Who needs to step up in Kane's absence?" "How do you plan to blend Kane's talents in when he is reinstated."

Perhaps the Hawks are thinking it is wiser to face the music now rather than in the middle of the season or before the playoffs, i.e. weather the storm early and get it out of the way.

It makes sense to me for the brass to tell the media right off the bat that this first press conference will be the only time Kane legal issues questions will be entertained by anyone in the organization until further notice. Have the media fire away for 30 minutes and get it over with. Then stick to a moritorium going forward.

IF by spring no charges had been brought AND no settlement had been negotiated, I can envision the scenario that this situation largely fades away.

I offer the above with the disclaimer that I am a Hawks fan and hope Kane truly did not commit the heinous act of which he is accused. I am also a fan of law abiding citizens and of justice. If Kane, or anyone else for that matter, is guilty of rape, then consequences to the fullest extent of the law should ensue.

If Kane pays the girl off he's dead as guilty and shouldn't be allowed to play hockey.

If Kane pays the girl off he's dead as guilty and shouldn't be allowed to play hockey.
- 2Real

Civil settlements have nothing to do with and are not proof of criminal or civil guilt or innocence. All they prove is that neither party wants to go to trial.

Civil settlements have nothing to do with and are not proof of criminal or civil guilt or innocence. All they prove is that neither party wants to go to trial.
- Marlowe

Proves he has something to hide. Any average Joe would be in jail now.

Proves he has something to hide. Any average Joe would be in jail now.
- 2Real

Disagree emphatically. No one knows what happened or for that matter what the evidence is in the investigation. In addition, Kane's attorney epidemics that any settlement talks have been or are being had. http://chicago.suntimes.c...r-denies-talks-settlement

I am not a Kane apologist or a Kane hater. I am just sick of everybody making absolute pronouncements of things as fact, as if they (or anyone else) know anything at all about what happened.

Disagree emphatically. No one knows what happened or foe that matter what the evidence is in the investigation. In addition, Kane's attorney epidemics that any settlement talks have been or are being had.
- Marlowe

Oh yea a Blackhawks fan would never want to put Kane in jail

Oh yea a Blackhawks fan would never want to put Kane in jail
- 2Real

If he's guilty of sexual assault he belongs in jail and plenty of folks on this site have said so. Period. Bur again, no one knows for sure what happened or what the investigation has found.

If Kane pays the girl off he's dead as guilty and shouldn't be allowed to play hockey.
- 2Real

Wrong. Now go away troll.

From the link BHawk1 provided...

"But according to the Tribune, those sources say both sides feel wronged and have threatened to walk away."

This is what I believe is the biggest "problem" holding up a settlement, even more so than money.

As for Runblad, we will see.

As for TVR, he hasn't shown me much of anything. Those first 19 games he was well protected and didn't display any great mental or physical prowess. Now, he could certainly settle in and become a good player, but I'm not sold on it. Plus, he has suffered a major injury almost every season going back to his pre-College days.

I heard that Rozy can't get the inflammation out of his injured ankle, and that most of his cardio work has been on the bike and not on skates.

Have any of you noticed that more and more the kind of players that Stan Bowman is bringing in, or trading for reflect Coach Q's preferences and needs? This is a good sign in my books.

I really like the Hartman kid, I hope he sticks.

As for the Hawks and Kane, as JJ said, regardless of how this plays out over the next month, this situation is NOT done in the eyes of Rocky Wirtz. We will hear what we hear tomorrow.

Finally, any deal for Bickell will involve the Hawks having to take back some of the salary, even if that involves another "bad" contract coming to Chicago.

Camp opens Friday!
- MexicoHawk

Like I said a couple of days ago, on this board there is always at least one Blackhawk with a target on his back. Rundblad wears one permanently and Bickell isn't far behind. Rozy gets temporary sympathy because of what happened with his injury.

At the other end of the scale here, TVR has nearly revered status as if he is a huge difference maker or something based on 19 regular season games where he played left side on the 3rd pairing. He has miles to go to be a cog with the Hawks at the NHL level and his past performance injury chart suggests he won't ever get thru an NHL season. I can see him being sent to Rockford to get some heavy playing minutes or swapped out for a pick. If he gets claimed on waivers, no big deal to me.

Kane going to camp seems to be an issue with a lot of people as we still don't know wtf happened or is going on.

I'll just ask this, if it wasn't Kane & was a player that was a prospect that 'may' have a future in the NHL, how would he be treated? Would player A be suspended? Would he be invited to camp without any fuss?

Rules are black & white aren't they? What is the precedent in this case?

well how about that....big $$$ lawyers are doing what big $$$ lawyers do and make big $$ settlements and what do you know...just in time for camp....

aren't we all surprised....can we just play hockey now...

Civil settlements have nothing to do with and are not proof of criminal or civil guilt or innocence. All they prove is that neither party wants to go to trial.
- Marlowe

I agree with the first sentence far more than the second. More accurately they prove that one side is willing to pay a good deal of money for the issue not to go to trial. That doesn't mean the person is guilty. It could mean that they need the mess to go away.

JJ can you elaborate on your estimation that the Hawks will miss the playoffs? Is that your "surprise" miss or do you think they are likely to miss?
- busmaster

I think a repeat is going to be near impossible. I think making the playoffs is 50-50.

I agree with the first sentence far more than the second. More accurately they prove that one side is willing to pay a good deal of money for the issue not to go to trial. That doesn't mean the person is guilty. It could mean that they need the mess to go away.
- Canada Cup

Yes to that but I would add that it takes agreement from both parties to settle. And there are plenty of reasons why both of them might not want them to go to trial.

MexicoHawk, maybe I am not recalling everything correctly, but didn't TVR play most of his minutes with either Rozsival or Rundblad prior to his injury? If anything, Oduya was the one who was sheltered as he recovered from the foot injury, and the loss of TVR stressed the D corps depth quite terribly for a good part of the regular season. The griping about Rundblad began in earnest after TVR's injury, also.

I think a repeat is going to be near impossible. I think making the playoffs is 50-50.
- John Jaeckel

Oh come on JJ !!!!!


The Hawks , with Kane and it looks like they will be with Kane are absolutley STACKED at forward STACKED.

I agree they have some questions with D men 4-7 but the Hawks have the absolute best top 3 D men in the NHL .

Crawford and Darling are both very good.

I dont see the Hawks missing the playoffs at all. Even without Kane if thats the case the Hawks will still get into the tournament.

I think a repeat is going to be near impossible. I think making the playoffs is 50-50.
- John Jaeckel

Repeating is alm9st impossible anyways. Nonmatter the situation

MexicoHawk, maybe I am not recalling everything correctly, but didn't TVR play most of his minutes with either Rozsival or Rundblad prior to his injury? If anything, Oduya was the one who was sheltered as he recovered from the foot injury, and the loss of TVR stressed the D corps depth quite terribly for a good part of the regular season. The griping about Rundblad began in earnest after TVR's injury, also.
- 333inthe3rd

Actually, they're similar-ish players, and neither is great. TVR is steadier and moves a little better, Rundblad is better coming up the ice, but both right-handed, non-physical, not terribly mobile.

I think Hejda makes it ahead of either of them, and Visnofsky could as well, although he is a much bigger question mark and I think a longshot to make the team. The real question is if Gustaffson is as good as or better than either of them, then one or both are likely in Rockford or gone somehow..

Oh yea a Blackhawks fan would never want to put Kane in jail
- 2Real

And you know something that NO ONE else here knows.

As Rosenbloom puts it, "your plane is boarding".

Repeating is alm9st impossible anyways. Nonmatter the situation
- mrpaulish

Agreed, it would be tough even with minimal changes.

I think a repeat is going to be near impossible. I think making the playoffs is 50-50.
- John Jaeckel

JJ, it sounds like you are envisioning 2011 all over again. If Daley really is a question mark, I could certainly see that. I didn't even know about that injury, so it does make me wonder about the trade. If Kane has to miss significant time, or God forbid goes away, it is very easy to believe the second half of last year could be the new normal.

I see a wide range of possibilities for how the Hawks do this year. It could be anywhere from strong contention to actually being sellers at the deadline. Until we see the product hit the ice, we just won't know.

And you know something that NO ONE else here knows.

As Rosenbloom puts it, "your plane is boarding".
- blackhawk24

I think the majority of Hawk fans want justice served. Speaking for myself and a lot of people I talk to, we don't want to root for a guy who is a real jagbag off the ice. But, in this case at least, the possibility remains he is innocent.

For my part, I think, regardless of the legal consequence here, there is a character/judgement issue there that the Hawks, if not not those surrounding Kane and the player himself, need to address.

But that is going to happen behind the scenes assuming the legal thing dies.

The character issue (friends, off-ice activities, etc) is going to be addressed, one way or the other, and very well could result in Kane being in another sweater before too terribly long.

JJ, it sounds like you are envisioning 2011 all over again. If Daley really is a question mark, I could certainly see that. I didn't even know about that injury, so it does make me wonder about the trade. If Kane has to miss significant time, or God forbid goes away, it is very easy to believe the second half of last year could be the new normal.

I see a wide range of possibilities for how the Hawks do this year. It could be anywhere from strong contention to actually being sellers at the deadline. Until we see the product hit the ice, we just won't know.
- 333inthe3rd

Yup. And just because Kane is coming to camp does not necessarily mean he plays this year or all season if he does play. Just one more variable.

Looking at Coyotes roster I can't find what guy with salary would be coming back. I don't understand the whole Pronger thing, so maybe that's it. Doan? Doubt it...

Actually, they're similar-ish players, and neither is great. TVR is steadier and moves a little better, Rundblad is better coming up the ice, but both right-handed, non-physical, not terribly mobile.

I think Hejda makes it ahead of either of them, and Visnofsky could as well, although he is a much bigger question mark and I think a longshot to make the team. The real question is if Gustaffson is as good as or better than either of them, then one or both are likely in Rockford or gone somehow..
- John Jaeckel

I thought TVR had better positioning, and was more reliable in his own end, but had nowhere near the offensive presence of Rundblad. His injury history warrants the looks at the other possibilities at this year's camp, at the very least. Lack of depth damn near killed them last year.