Report: Kane expected to attend Blackhawks training camp
The Blackhawks released their training-camp roster Wednesday morning and Patrick Kane was indeed listed among the 36 forwards expected to participate in preseason activities at Notre Dame this weekend.
The Hawks have been tight-lipped about Kane's status since early August when news broke that he is under investigation for an alleged sexual assault of a woman in his Hamburg, New York home.
Asked specifically about Kane and his status, a Blackhawks spokesman said "all players on that roster are expected to be at camp."
Vice president and general manager Stan Bowman, president and CEO John McDonough, coach Joel Quenneville and select players will answer questions from assembled media Thursday at 2 p.m. (Central time) at Notre Dame. Comcast SportsNet will televise the news conference live.
If Kane reports to camp, it will come as a surprise to many, even though the 26-year-old hasn't been charged with a crime.
A grand jury, however, is set to hear evidence soon, according to reports. Kane may or may not testify. Grand juries can take up to a month to decide whether to issue an indictment and need only a relatively low level of probable cause to hand down an indictment.
If Kane is indicted, the Blackhawks almost assuredly will have to revisit his status on the team.
The first official practice of the 2015-16 season will be at the Compton Family Ice Arena at Notre Dame at 10 a.m. Friday. That will be followed by a pair of scrimmages and another team practice.
The Hawks will stay at Notre Dame until Sunday, then return to the United Center for their Training Camp Festival, which begins at 7 p.m. Monday The first 10,000 fans to arrive receive a Jonathan Toews bobblehead.
Among the 57 forwards and defensemen on the training-camp roster are Tomas Kopecky, Daniel Paille and Michal Rozsival. They are all without contracts and will attend under a tryout basis.
The 33-year-old Kopecky spent two of his seasons with the Hawks, winning a Stanley Cup in 2010. He has spent the last four years with Florida, scoring 2 goals in 64 games last season.
The 31-year-old Paille has spent most of his career with the Boston Bruins. He had 6 goals last season in 71 games.
Rozsival broke his ankle in the Western Conference semifinals last season, and many wondered if the 37-year-old defenseman would retire. He's coming to camp hoping to win a spot in a crowded D corps but obviously hoping to return to the Hawks for a fourth season.