| « Fire Fall to Houston | Errors Lock Up Bandits » |
Blackhawks Mon Aug 10 2009
Kane's arrest - what will it mean?
My first thought when hearing the news of Patrick Kane's arrest this morning?
Patrick Kane doesn't fight, he just high sticks people on the sly.
My second? Dispute over 20 cents, cab ride at 4 a.m. Probably doesn't take much to deduce that alcohol was probably a factor for the under-21 Hawks star.
While on the face of it, such facts add up to a case of a youngster still having moments of immaturity while living in the spotlight, similar to the gang-photo fracas with Derrick Rose a few months ago, a felony robbery charge is a much more serious matter. Do I think Kane (or Rose, for that matter) are truly bad people? No, not really, but both instances prove they can make bad decisions.
The Blackhawks have made Kane's baby-face and good-kid demeanor a major advertising sell, and this is the latest in a series of off-season controversies to erupt around the franchise. Though Kane still figures to be a major part of the organization both on and off the ice, the arrest does close a chapter of the Hawks fairytale resurgence.
How it will affect the Blackhawks and Kane's season may depend on the results of any possible trial, given Kane's not-guilty plea, but it's bound to provide fodder for fans in opposing cities throughout the year, even if charges are dropped. It's definitely one more distraction the team doesn't need as they look to start a new season with the momentum of last year's surprise playoff run.
More immediately, given Kane was expected back in Chicago next week for Team USA's training camp for the 2010 Olympics, the chance of seeing Kane in Vancouver may have dropped significantly.
