The Erie County (New York) District Attorney has postponed grand jury proceedings into allegations of sexual assault levelled at Kane, according to the Associated Press. The hearings were postponed for two weeks.

EDGE Analysis

There was no reason for the postponement, but multiple legal experts have speculated it may be because of a pending settlement between the two sides. A settlement would be damning to Kane, but it would likely be better than a multi-year incarceration. But a settlement has been described as a potential good thing for the accuser who would be dragged through public eye day after day at trial. We can't begin to say we understand the legal side of this case, but the moral and ethical side hasn't changed. And that's the side that will make Kane a target for heckling in every city he visits and drive him deeper into the dog house in the squeaky clean Chicago brand.

The Blackhawks aren't willing to announce whether or not Kane will be present when training camp opens Sept. 18, the Chicago Tribune reports. "I don't have an answer to that question," Blackhawks spokesman Brandon Faber said last week.

EDGE Analysis

While no formal charges have been levied against Kane in an alleged rape that occurred in August at his offseason home in Hamburg, N.Y., the Blackhawks are understandably keeping their distance from the situation while a criminal investigation remains in progress. Those with ties to the Blackhawks relayed that the organization is considering a "number of options" in how to handle the matter, with granting Kane a personal leave of absence representing one of the possibilities. The uncertain circumstances and length of the investigation put Kane's possible return to the Blackhawks in jeopardy, but further clarity could be gained in the weeks to come.

Kane's alleged rape victim has been subpoenaed to appear before a grand jury on September 8, according to WGRZ.com.

EDGE Analysis

The process with the grand jury could take weeks or perhaps months, and the investigation could stretch into the upcoming season. The grand jury has been formed to investigate allegations of sexual assault against the 'Hawks winger that arose from an incident in his home in early August. At this time, Kane has not been charged with a crime.

The Hawks have apparently fielded speculative trade calls about Kane from more than five different teams, reports the Chicago Sun-Times. There is no indication the Hawks would trade him, but the team is extremely image conscious and there are suggestions they feel "disrespected" by Kane's alleged actions this summer.

EDGE Analysis

No charges have been laid in the investigation into an alleged rape of a woman at Kane's home. The team has largely remained quiet on the issue, but it was already displeased that he used the Hawks' Stanley Cup rally to proclaim he intended to act like a fool again while celebrating the Cup win. Optics matter to the Hawks and the team may be forced to do something to maintain its image. Others have been quick to distance themselves from Kane. He has been quietly removed from the cover of EA Sports NHL '16 video game and his former OHL squad (London Knights) dropped the moniker "Team Kane" from its annual training camp agenda. Camp is only a few weeks away and things could change dramatically for Kane and the Hawks before then.

Chicago Blackhawks right winger Patrick Kane was confirmed Friday to be under investigation for an alleged sexual assault, according to the Buffalo News. Kane has not at this time been charged with any offenses as police in Hamburg, N.Y. await the results of forensic tests.

Chicago Blackhawks right wing Patrick Kane is the subject of an investigation by police in Hamburg, New York regarding an alleged sexual assault, according to the Buffalo News. The Hamburg Police Department would neither confirm nor deny Kane's involvement in the case and is unlikely to issue any sort of official statement until the investigation is complete. The victim of the alleged crime was sent to a local hospital for testing and sources close to the situation have suggested that Kane could turn himself into police as early as Thursday. "We are aware of the matter and are in the process of gathering information. It would be inappropriate to comment further at this time," the Blackhawks said in a statement. "We are aware of a police investigation and are following developments." The outcome of the investigation will likely go a long way in determining whether Kane will see any punishment from the league.

Kane factored into both goals in Monday's Stanley Cup-clinching win over the Lightning, registering a goal and an assist. Kane entered Monday's Game 6 without a goal and only one assist in the Finals, but his insurance tally with just over five minutes remaining helped secure Chicago's third Cup in six years. The winger's regular season was cut short by a broken clavicle, but he turned in another highly productive year when healthy and figures to be among the league's best once again in the 2015-16 season.

Kane is still looking for his first Stanley Cup Finals goal this season as the series heads into Game 6 on Monday night, the Chicago Sun-Times reports. Kane has only one assist in the first five games and that came in Game 4 at home. He last scored a goal in Game 6 against Anaheim in the Western Conference Finals on May 27. Tampa Bay has done a great job against Kane especially Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman. But Kane has excelled in elimination or series clinchers. In nine games in which the Hawks either faced elimination or had a chance to clinch a series (or both) in the past two postseasons, Kane has scored 20 points (six goals, 14 assists) and is a plus-10. He's scored at least one point in each of those games.

Kane, who has failed to put a shot on goal in the first two games of the Stanley Cup Finals, is expected to be moved off Jonathan Towes' line as the Blackhawks look to generate more offense in Game 3, The Buffalo News reports. Kane is expected to be moved to a line with Brad Richards and Kris Versteeg while Toews gets placed with Marian Hossa and Brandon Saad. While playing with Toews in general certainly yields more scoring upside, in this case the Lightning has been able to concentrate its pair of shutdown blueliners - Victor Hedman and Anton Stralman - almost exclusively on the Hawks' top line. Kane could actually see a little more elbow room with the Blackhawks spreading out their best talent.

Kane was held without a shot Saturday in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final and has now gone without a point in two games this series. He hadn't been held without a shot in a game since Jan. 16. But don't expect this quiet streak to last long -- he's too skilled and far to dynamic to be held down for long.