As Patrick Kane Gets Booked, Is the Hawks Revolution Over in Chicago?

Jim Neveau, Blackhawks Beat Writer

If fans thought that the freak show the Blackhawks’ off-season has become was finally over now that the calendar has turned to August, then they were sorely mistaken.

Yesterday, in the spirit of the tumultuous nature of this off-season, Patrick Kane was arrested in his native Buffalo, NY for allegedly robbing and beating up a cab driver in an early morning incident. Kane and his cousin James allegedly sucker punched the driver and took back their fare they had paid him after he said he didn’t have $0.20 in change.

Is this building going to continue to be full?

Information in the case is slowly trickling out, and statements by the Kane’s and their family have not been issued yet.

The issue that most people are currently focusing on is whether or not this alleged crime can be chalked up to youthful idiocy, or if it is a larger symptom of Kane being a self-obsessed prima donna of a hockey player. Most in the media have either described Kane as a spoiled brat kid who thought he was above the law, or as a kid who simply made a mistake.

Both of these descriptions have accurate points to them, but what needs to be stated is that we really don’t know ANYTHING about this case, and passing judgment on a young man like Kane without knowing the facts is patently irresponsible.

Now that we’ve moved on from the soapbox, the bigger question in all of this is a simple one: with all of the dumb and controversial things the Blackhawks have done this off-season, have they done permanent damage to the Blackhawks brand? The brand which skyrocketed from little to enormous value in a little less than two full seasons, and is now one of the most powerful in the city?  Have they become more of a laughingstock than a title contender?

The answer to these questions are pretty simple, and while they won’t be fully answered until the season begins, there are many layers and complexities that can be examined now.

The handling of the Marian Hossa contract and the restricted free agent signings showed a lack of competence on the part of the front office, and can easily be pointed to later if the team struggles.

A full UC speaks to the power of the Blackhawks brand

The Hawks would have been better off without those issues, and it certainly does damage their reputation, because it is unlikely that players aren’t turned off by that lack of intelligence among the higher-ups of the front office, even with the dismissal of Dale Tallon.

Speaking of Tallon, players who will eyeball joining the Hawk bandwagon over the next several years may be less inclined to join a team that treats respected individuals like that. Martin Havlat’s opinion is certainly a valuable one, and players may listen to his complaints about John McDonough’s tactics. After seeing first Denis Savard and then Tallon run out of town unceremoniously, they may think twice about how loyal the team will really be to them.

The team’s forthcoming salary cap issues are also going to be a big concern to fans in the city as well. With a tighter budget, popular players such as Patrick Sharp and Kane may be forced out of town due to cutbacks, which would certainly not be very well-received by a fanbase starved for a winning team. Especially with a player of Kane’s explosiveness and popularity, fans likely would not forgive the team if they lose him because of signings like the Campbell, Huet, and Hossa deals.

Lastly, how are fans going to react if the Kane robbery story does not go away? If more lurid details come out that portray Kane as the kind of spoiled brat that some are already making him out to be, or if rumors of him having a drinking problem are true, what will followers of the team do? Will they demand he be disciplined, or will they want him to be forgiven?

It is an interesting dilemma for a guy who’s popular enough to be considered the next face of American hockey, and whose grill graces the cover of the NHL 10 video game. Obviously, judgment will have to be withheld until all the facts come out, but the sheer number of possible outcomes to this story are certain to leave a pit in one’s stomach.

All of these events have clearly had a negative impact on the perception of the team, both league-wide and in the city of Chicago. Mothers and fathers may have to think twice about allowing their children to emulate the affable Kane, cut back on jersey and t-shirt purchases in case popular players get traded, and resist spending their hard-earned dollars just to see them keep getting shelled out in increasingly massive contracts.

All in all, the reputation of the Indian head has taken its first real hit of the new era of hockey meaning something in the city of Chicago. The big question now is this: will hockey have the staying power to ride these tough times out, or is this the beginning of the end for the Chicago hockey renaissance?

Author’s Note:

I have been very fortunate to be allowed to cover the upcoming US Hockey Olympic Orientation Camp in Woodridge, IL next week. I am proud to represent The Hockey Writers at this event, and I’m looking for some reader help.

If you have any questions you would like me to ask of the players and coaches at the camp, don’t hesitate to leave a comment on one of my articles, or to email me at jamesneveau@hotmail.com. I look forward to hearing from you, and thanks for the help!

Posted by Jim Neveau on Aug 10 2009. Filed under Central, Chicago Blackhawks, Western Conference. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.