Bettman: NHL will watch Kane 'process play out'
With NHL training camps opening in just over a week and no resolution in the ongoing investigation into rape allegations against Chicago Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane, the clock is ticking for Kane, the Blackhawks and the NHL to come to a decision on whether Kane can or should participate.
The allegations against Kane surfaced more than a month ago, however the Blackhawks star has not been charged. A grand jury was expected to convene Tuesday to review evidence and possibly hear testimony from witnesses, but according to multiple reports, those proceedings have been postponed. The Associated Press later reported that the grand jury has been put off for about two weeks.
That two-week timeline would suggest that the investigation would still be open when the Blackhawks hold their first practice of training camp on Sept. 18 at the University of Notre Dame. That presents a challenging situation for the league, the team and Kane.
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman had not previously publicly addressed the Kane situation, but did so during his media availability Wednesday at the World Cup of Hockey announcement.
More on Bettman’s answer from Yahoo Sports’ Josh Cooper:
“Obviously when a player is involved in something like Patrick Kane is subject to right now in terms of the authorities investigating and looking, it’s unfortunate, it’s a terrible thing, but we’re going to have to watch the process play out and at the appropriate time we’ll make whatever decisions have to be made at the time,” Bettman said.
When asked if the NHL has started its own investigation on Kane, Bettman indicated one had not begun.
“At the appropriate time we will look into it,” he said.
Bettman told the AP on Wednesday he has not yet spoken with Kane since the allegations became public. He also told the AP that the league’s access to information in these types of cases is somewhat limited.
Though it may not yet be the “appropriate time,” the league may need to make some sort of decision on this early next week with teams set to open their doors for training camps on Sept. 17.
Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports suggested that a meeting involving the league, the Blackhawks and Kane will take place early next week to discuss the next step for all parties.
Meeting should happen early next week with the NHL, the Hawks and Patrick Kane. Decision needs to be made before training camp on his future
— Renaud Lavoie (@renlavoietva) September 9, 2015
The NHL does have some authority thanks to the collective bargaining agreement to suspend a player while under criminal investigation, pending a review and “if failure to suspend the Player during this period would create a substantial risk of material harm to the legitimate interests and/or reputation of the League.” That said, the league has not yet conducted its own review of the situation and they’re still awaiting more facts themselves according to Bettman.
Without any formal charges against Kane and no arrest, it’s tricky with how the NHL should proceed. Hamburg (N.Y.) Police and the Erie County D.A. have not even acknowledged publicly that Kane is the individual under investigation in this case.
Additionally, in an interview with ESPN.com, Pat Brisson, Kane’s agent, said that he was unsure if Kane would attend training camp when it begins.
“We are going to decide as we get closer here,” Brisson said. “We’re going to take it a step at a time. It’s too premature to tell.”
Though the league and the team may have some grounds to suspend Kane or at least bar him from attending training camp, Kane could potentially decide not to report to camp on his own. Considering the scrutiny he is under currently, it probably wouldn’t be the worst idea, though that also remains complicated.
No matter what happens, time is running out when it comes to making a decision about training camp. The NHL regular season is still a month away, though. Meanwhile, those investigating Kane are bound only to the amount of time necessary to charge or clear him.
The NHL is still monitoring the Patrick Kane investigation. (USATSI)
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