Friedman on Patrick Kane Press Conference Aftermath

Chicago Blackhawks star Patrick Kane addressed the media for the first time Thursday since rape accusations against him came to light. Quenneville was asked if he’s preparing his team for potential distractions – but he says it’s business as usual for him.

Appearing calm and poised, the 26-year-old Kane acknowledged that it has been an “incredibly hard time for many people” since the allegation surfaced in early August. “I can not apologize enough for the distraction this has caused my family, my team”.

“I wish I could answer those questions, but there is a legal matter going on”, he said in many different ways.

After his short statement, as well as one from McDonough stating that the team decided to bring Kane in based on information that was now presented to the team, any questions surrounding the case were pushed to the side in favor of hockey questions. This wasn’t a banner the Chicago Blackhawks would consider relevant during training camp when they hoisted the Stanley Cup back in June. The case is expected to go before a grand jury in the coming weeks. The Blackhawks are hungry, you see, and they believe they are going to be measured over decades, or something. “Furthermore, we have the utmost respect for the legal process”.

A grim-faced Hawks president John McDonough read a prepared statement prior to Kane’s remarks.

“We take a lot of time to weigh these decisions”, McDonough said. “We’re doing the best we can in the framework of what we can talk about today”.

But Kane stuck to script, telling each journalist that he appreciated their question before then dodging that question and giving a useless answer. “I think of course to a certain degree nobody wanted this, but again we don’t want to get into those details right now”, Toews said.

Kane, the first overall pick in the 2007 National Hockey League Entry Draft who has helped the Hawks win three Stanley Cups in six seasons, has scored 205 goals in eight seasons.

“This hasn’t been an easy situation to deal with, for any of us”, he said.

Despite a flurry of questions at the media briefing, Kane declined to comment further on the matter. They were there to ask about an alleged crime of sexual violence committed by the face of his franchise, and the thought process behind that franchise’s decision to include him in training camp despite it all.