It's not meant to help the case. It's helping some ardent and long-time fans process this shocking development that has completely upended what we thought we knew about the team and the era of hockey in Chicago that holds/held a special place for us.

And, less than 72 hours later, there is still new information coming out that helps to put what we're thinking and feeling and believing into context.

NOTE: we've been talking about the issues on-ice and how to fix them for years now. I'm looking forward to talking about what we are seeing on the ice during the game tonight.

So, while it is clearly angering you, I'm sorry, but I am appreciating the opportunity to discuss this with a lot of people whose opinions on the Hawks I appreciate.
- pdx2ord

As tawdry and damning as it is, it's not a shocking development. We don't need to sift through anything, to determine how we feel. It's life, and this garbage goes on in every state of the union. This board in many ways, serves as an oasis from all life's craziness. At least it did so in the past. Why are you surprised by this, at all?

So Phillips will be making his debut tonight.
- BetweenTheDots

Looking forward to it! Give the young'uns their first taste of NHL hockey, give them an idea where they are and what they need to do to become major leaguers.

No, it is not

It is the equivalent of saying of a woman who was raped, "well, she shouldn't have worn that short skirt," "she shouldn't have been out alone at night," etc. etc.

Please don't do that

Trust me when I tell you that Kyle has done enough woulda, coulda, shoulda about that situation over the past 11 years, that he doesn't need our support in that
- pdx2ord

Good Lord, that has nothing to do with what I wrote. Your imagination remains fruitful.

Looking forward to it! Give the young'uns their first taste of NHL hockey, give them an idea where they are and what they need to do to become major leaguers.
- 35Tony0

I agree i just wish Jones or Kalynuk would come back so i don't have to watch Gusto anymore

For all those Trolls for other teams. Shut your mouth as your team may be next.
- rtang415

You know these out-of-town trolls are STILL pissed that we easily dispatched their heroes. Still busy barking and snapping at our heels.

The Hawks are going to be a pariah organization for some time, facing the wrath of fans both on the road, and at the UC, as well as the press, for some time going forward.

I'm not sure that the pending announcement of the investigation findings didn't have some negative impact of the play on the ice. An organization in turmoil can impact people at all levels of that organization.

While this gives the Wirtz family time to put their internal house in order, it also presents an opportunity for JC and the players to take an 'us against the world' mentality on the ice.

I see 2 ways this can go. Either the players back down in the face of all the adversity (catcalls/boos/protests/etc.) and the team goes further south, or they rally around each other and improve their performance. Either way, it's going to be a bumpy road the rest of this season.
- scottak

Scott, if the Hawks hire an experienced prez of hockey ops, a new GM and coach, make a few shrewd moves, win a rd in the playoffs next yr finishing 5th or 6th in the conference do you think the scrutiny among the majority of fans and the media will lessen greatly if not wither away?

In other words what got almost all of the actors fired/banned/forced to resign to begin with, giving their city and fans a winner, be the recipe to earn back their acceptance/love/admiration?

And again in other words, is human nature the same the day after the Beach interview as the day before? Winning cures almost all ills?

Looking forward to it! Give the young'uns their first taste of NHL hockey, give them an idea where they are and what they need to do to become major leaguers.
- 35Tony0

Hoping he does well. We need him badly, along with others. Time to attempt to turn the page.

Good Lord, that has nothing to do with what I wrote. Your imagination remains fruitful.
- mohel

Were you not implying it was OK to question what Beach should have done differently to avoid putting himself in harm's way? If not, that's how it could be interpreted.

Let's just make a pact that neither of us respond to the other's posts from now forward...what I write and you interpret and what you write and I interpret will clearly always be two different things.

Stupid Leaves just signed Reilly to an 8 year $60M contract. Reilly would have been the 3rd or 4th best defenseman on the 2010-2016 Hawk teams. The Leaves now have fives guys signed for about $55M. One of the top four forwards will obviously have to be dealt.

Stupid Leaves just signed Reilly to an 8 year $60M contract. Reilly would have been the 3rd or 4th best defenseman on the 2010-2016 Hawk teams. The Leaves now have fives guys signed for about $55M. One of the top four forwards will obviously have to be dealt.
- paulr

Do they have some inside scoop on what's going to happen with the salary cap that we don't know? It's mind boggling unless they're planning to deal one of the big ticket guys.

Saw him play Oshawa a couple years ago. The only reason I remember him was he was a really great skater.
- paulr

Really, I'm shocked.

When me and my white boy friends were growing up and playing the game we were told black kids couldn't play because they had weak ankles and would never be able to skate any good. And they didn't like cold either.

What's this world coming to?

So Phillips will be making his debut tonight.
- BetweenTheDots

The very first bit of business of the new interim GM? Hopefully a few of the attention to detail posters, as well as Theo, keeps a log of new guy's transactions/moves.

Carolina is my favorite team in all of hockey to watch right now. Yea the Panthers are a fun watch but IMO the Canes give as a complete bought in 60 minutes of 4 line hockey of any team I've seen. A truly 3 zone relentless squad with a nice mix of players prepared and coached by a helluva no nonsense Brind'Amour.

Guess I'm hoping that others who might share his opinion might read and understand a different perspective?
- pdx2ord

Because anyone who doesn't see it your way must be re-educated.

I figure tonight will go one of 2 ways. The Hawks will play hard again and Lank is great just like the other night and barely lose. Or, Carolina scores 3 times in the first 10 minutes and plays keep away for 50 minutes. They have only given up 3 goals in the last 4 games I think. The Hawks are going to have a hell of a time trying to score. They better hope they get about 5 PPs.

Scott, if the Hawks hire an experienced prez of hockey ops, a new GM and coach, make a few shrewd moves, win a rd in the playoffs next yr finishing 5th or 6th in the conference do you think the scrutiny among the majority of fans and the media will lessen greatly if not wither away?

In other words what got almost all of the actors fired/banned/forced to resign to begin with, giving their city and fans a winner, be the recipe to earn back their acceptance/love/admiration?

And again in other words, is human nature the same the day after the Beach interview as the day before? Winning cures almost all ills?
- Mr Ricochet

Of course the vitriol toward the Blackhawks will lessen over time, but it'll take a while to completely dissipate. Penn State teams were protested for quite a while after the Sandusky scandal. Hell, when I see a Penn State team on TV, Gerry and JoePa and the scandal are still the first things that come to my mind.

I think the tarnish to the Blackhawk organization will last longer than you think.

Of course the vitriol toward the Blackhawks will lessen over time, but it'll take a while to completely dissipate. Penn State teams were protested for quite a while after the Sandusky scandal. Hell, when I see a Penn State team on TV, Gerry and JoePa and the scandal are still the first things that come to my mind.

I think the tarnish to the Blackhawk organization will last longer than you think.
- scottak

Well that's the consequences of their inability to act. I hate that this happened, and it went without any consequence at the time. On the flip side I'm a Blackhawks fan and don't really care what anybody else thinks of the team.

Really, I'm shocked.

When me and my white boy friends were growing up and playing the game we were told black kids couldn't play because they had weak ankles and would never be able to skate any good. And they didn't like cold either.

What's this world coming to?


- RickJ

Crazy that no one is better or worse based on race or gender. Who would a thunk it?

Were you not implying it was OK to question what Beach should have done differently to avoid putting himself in harm's way? If not, that's how it could be interpreted.

Let's just make a pact that neither of us respond to the other's posts from now forward...what I write and you interpret and what you write and I interpret will clearly always be two different things.
- pdx2ord

pdx, haven't read even 1/4 of what has been posted about this nightmare but found your posts thoughtful, that's why I'm tagging you.

Being raised in the 70's, when things were much much different, my Pops taught me something I never forgot. To paraphrase he told me, if you walk down a dark alley and get popped over the head it's your fault. Don't go down dark alleys and you'll be ok.

An analogy for me is when I ride a bike. Sure I have the right of way sometimes but if the goof in his/her 2 ton vehicle texting away doesn't give a damn, or know, about my rights I concede ground simply for self preservation's sake.

Legally I can walk anywhere I want and have right of way rights on my bike but it's in my own self interest, or even survival, to use common sense.

Does any of that sound reasonable understanding of course that that dastardly Aldrich is 100% the reason this nightmare occurred?

pdx, haven't read even 1/4 of what has been posted about this nightmare but found your posts thoughtful, that's why I'm tagging you.

Being raised in the 70's, when things were much much different, my Pops taught me something I never forgot. To paraphrase he told me, if you walk down a dark alley and get popped over the head it's your fault. Don't go down dark alleys and you'll be ok.

An analogy for me is when I ride a bike. Sure I have the right of way sometimes but if the goof in his/her 2 ton vehicle texting away doesn't give a damn, or know, about my rights I concede ground simply for self preservation's sake.

Legally I can walk anywhere I want and have right of way rights on my bike but it's in my own self interest, or even survival, to use common sense.

Does any of that sound reasonable understanding of course that that dastardly Aldrich is 100% the reason this nightmare occurred?
- Mr Ricochet

I told my daughters something similar. You’re 100% in the right to be or wear whatever you wish. But if something happens it’s irrelevant you were right.

Cheveldayoff won’t be disciplined.
- paulr

Bettman favors Canadian teams! For the sake of consistency, Chevy should have been forced to resign also. I guess some in management are free to "mess up". Bad optics for the NHL!

Of course the vitriol toward the Blackhawks will lessen over time, but it'll take a while to completely dissipate. Penn State teams were protested for quite a while after the Sandusky scandal. Hell, when I see a Penn State team on TV, Gerry and JoePa and the scandal are still the first things that come to my mind.

I think the tarnish to the Blackhawk organization will last longer than you think.
- scottak

My guess is that the length of time and severity of backlash to the organIzation will track closely to wins and losses. Not saying that's how it should be just that that's what society demands, a winner, and that's how this nightmare was made possible in the 1st place and will happen in some form again as it forever has.

In most any walk of life, sports or the real world, discretions are overlooked as long as results are produced.

yeah, I am done talking about it...I am sure there is more to this and we will never know everything and I don't care at this point.....

Just hurts my hockey soul that this happened. Not sure what to make what they have now and curious to see how Toews and Kane play after all the heat they took in the press.....woudln't shock me if either and/or both asked for a fresh start elsewhere after taking the press head on while upper management stayed quiet....looking at you Rockwell Wirtz.

What a freaking week........

pdx, haven't read even 1/4 of what has been posted about this nightmare but found your posts thoughtful, that's why I'm tagging you.

Being raised in the 70's, when things were much much different, my Pops taught me something I never forgot. To paraphrase he told me, if you walk down a dark alley and get popped over the head it's your fault. Don't go down dark alleys and you'll be ok.

An analogy for me is when I ride a bike. Sure I have the right of way sometimes but if the goof in his/her 2 ton vehicle texting away doesn't give a damn, or know, about my rights I concede ground simply for self preservation's sake.

Legally I can walk anywhere I want and have right of way rights on my bike but it's in my own self interest, or even survival, to use common sense.

Does any of that sound reasonable understanding of course that that dastardly Aldrich is 100% the reason this nightmare occurred?
- Mr Ricochet

Yes it does, and thank you, Ricochet - I, too, was raised in the era where my mother told me that if I didn't sit with my legs closed, I was "just asking for it." It's why I didn't tell her for 10 years after my assaults at ages 11-12. Parents will always try to warn their kids to not put themselves in danger, but in so doing, that can lead to a kid blaming him/herself for something a criminal did to them.

In this scenario, I'm just asking that we on the board don't pivot en masse to trying to defend Aldrich's actions or lower his level of accountability by placing the blame at Beach's feet because of what he did or didn't do that fateful night (or before). I've seen that starting to happen in many responses.

I can promise everyone here that Beach has asked himself 1M times what he could have done differently to prevent it, has blamed himself for putting himself in that situation, told himself he shouldn't have gotten so drunk. To this day, I view the crimes that happened to me very differently because of the role I played in each.

So, just asking that we leave the victim blaming / questioning to the authorities and him and his conscience. I understand that it is natural to ask.

yeah, I am done talking about it...I am sure there is more to this and we will never know everything and I don't care at this point.....

Just hurts my hockey soul that this happened. Not sure what to make what they have now and curious to see how Toews and Kane play after all the heat they took in the press.....woudln't shock me if either and/or both asked for a fresh start elsewhere after taking the press head on while upper management stayed quiet....looking at you Rockwell Wirtz.

What a freaking week........
- SteveRain

Perfectly encapsulates how I'm feeling.

I'm not sure of the timing of this but I'll let it fly anyway and maybe someone here can correct me. Kyle Beach did not come to Chicago as an angel boy. He was a cocky kid with an attitude. His stats said he was a power forward, but he got poop kicked regularly in the A. He had kid muscles in a mans game, but he was 20 years old. The only one I ever saw him beat the hell out of was Olimb in the 2010 camp before the 10-11 season (I think) which would be right after the incident and the Cup win. I wasn't impressed by his play and I really wasn't impressed when he instigated and poop kicked a guy half his size, and twice at that. IMO there was no way this guy was fit to be an NHL player. And it turns out he never did.

But there's always what ifs. What if Beach matured mentally and physically into a man and developed into an NHL player down the road. Could have happened, he wouldn't have been the first. Certainly the assault issue hindered him and it appears he was buried by the hawks. Without knowing about the incident I always thought he was horsepoop. And I always wondered why the obvious mismatch fights with Olimb. Knowing what we know now I have to wonder if Olimb was one of the ones supposedly chipping Beach about Aldrich. And if that's the case I feel foolish for my take on Beach stemming from that camp.