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A quick blog to summarize and comment on the last 24 hours in the Patrick Kane Saga.
All we know for sure is that there's been a postponement in the Grand Jury proceeding. There's no substantiation to the rumors (which I've heard from two independent sources myself) of an impending settlement. And there could be basic legal/scheduling reasons for the postponement that have nothing to do with a settlement.
All that said, what I heard had a couple of common denominators to it, and both point to a possible quick resolution of the legal situation. And both also suggest that doesn't necessarily mean Kane takes the ice for the Blackhawks soon.
He might. He might not. There are way too many eventualities that need to play out before that happens.
What I have been and still am hearing is the Blackhawks are basically fed up with these offseason "surprises" (putting it mildly) and this incident will likely not be swept under the rug and back to business as usual with Kane.
So, some of what might happen after a legal resolution, appears to be up to Kane and what he can demonstrate to the team regarding some behavioral/lifestyle adjustments. And my best guess is regardless, Kane will not be with the Hawks when they open camp.
Assume everything magically disappears in a puff of smoke in the next week or so. The media circus and distraction that Kane would present in camp is not what the team needs at that time. It's about hockey—not the Patrick Kane Soap Opera.
And by now, it is far beyond the point to dance around the 800 pound gorilla in the room: which is that Kane seems to find himself in these predicaments way too frequently and consistently, when he has allegedly promised in the past to avoid them. Other players avoid them. Why can't he? Especially with the obvious responsibilities of a huge contract and significant endorsements.
So, yesterday's development certainly signals some movement in the situation. But this is far from "over."
Stay tuned.
JJ