Blackhawks' McDonough won't comment on Kane

Blackhawks president John McDonough, in his first public appearance since Patrick Kane's arrest Sunday in Buffalo, N.Y., said it's still not time for the organization to comment on the incident.

"With the situation regarding Patrick Kane, it is a legal matter and it really would be inappropriate of me to comment on," McDonough said Tuesday at a speaking engagement before the Schaumburg Business Association's monthly Good Morning Schaumburg breakfast.

"I think all this is premature. I think we should wait until we find out what unfolds. It's really something I'm not comfortable commenting on until then," McDonough said after the meeting.

McDonough, who has been the Hawks president for 20 months, spoke to the gathering of roughly 160 business representatives about his experiences in directing change in business and its culture, the importance of hiring quality people, not being afraid to take risks, and making difficult decisions based on sound processes.

Kane's agent, Pat Brisson, issued a statement Tuesday saying he believed his client would be fully exonerated from the charges he faces.

Kane and his 21-year-old cousin, James M. Kane, each have been charged with two counts of second-degree robbery, Class C felonies, as well as misdemeanor criminal mischief and theft of services from taxi driver Jan Radecki.

"Early Sunday morning, Pat Kane was involved in an unfortunate situation with a cabdriver in Buffalo," Brisson said. "The cabdriver's attorney in recent media reports was quoted as saying that the incident has been blown out of proportion.

"Kane has retained Paul Cambria as his attorney in this matter. Cambria has told me that, based on the evidence that he has reviewed in this case, there is no doubt that Mr. Kane will be fully exonerated.

"Since this is an ongoing legal matter, I think it is inappropriate for me to comment further at this time. But I am absolutely confident that, when the legal process has been completed, Pat Kane will be fully cleared."

Cambria, appearing Tuesday on the Waddell and Silvy show on WMVP 1000-AM, said a grand jury could hear the case Thursday.

"I believe the grand jury is going to investigate this case on Thursday and then make some recommendations," Cambria said. "They have a number of choices. One choice would be to dismiss all the charges against Patrick. Another choice would be to lay charges that aren't felonies.

"I think it's clear that there's no basis under anybody's scenario for felonies in this case."

Kane and his cousin were to have a felony hearing Monday in Buffalo City Court. That's the same day Kane is scheduled to be at USA Hockey's Olympic orientation camp at Seven Bridges Ice Arena in Woodridge.

Cambria reiterated that Kane committed no crime against the 62-year-old taxi driver.

"He did not assault the cabdriver. Did not rob the cabdriver. Did not cheat him out of his fee - none of those things, Cambria said. "He tried to get out of a locked cab from a cabdriver who was not permitting either one of them to get out of a locked cab.

"Apparently he said that's his MO. When he takes young kids or college kids anyplace late at night, he locks them in the cab until they pay him. And his lawyer said this morning in an interview that I heard that in the past many of the passengers have become upset because they're being trapped in a car and not allowed to simply stand up and get their money out."

Cambria is not representing James Kane.

"I'm not blaming or defending his cousin," Cambria said. "He has an attorney and his attorney can speak for him. I think it's clear that there's no question that the cousin was the one involved in the financial transaction with the cabdriver."

Cambria said Patrick Kane is eager for his side of the story to be told.

"He is very eager, as a matter of fact, and I have advised him to simply sit tight and let the process work," Cambria said.

"He's devastated anyone would accuse him of a crime. He's not that sort of person. (He) wanted nothing to do with this cabdriver in any way shape or form. (He) simply wanted to get out of the cab."

Meanwhile, the Buffalo News reported Tuesday that Radecki has two drunken-driving convictions and had no valid driver's license at the time of the incident.

There has been speculation that either the charges against the Kanes will be dropped or that the two sides will work out a settlement.

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