With the investigation into an alleged rape involving him ongoing, Blackhawks RW Patrick Kane "was not invited to the NHL’s annual preseason media tour" today and tomorrow, when 40 top players "gather to make television promos that will appear throughout the upcoming season," according to Tim Graham of the BUFFALO NEWS. Not inviting the four-time All-Star "helps the NHL and the Blackhawks keep their distance from one of the world’s most identifiable players." An NHL spokesperson said that more than two players per team "rarely get invited to the media tour and superstars don’t always participate." Blackhawks C Jonathan Toews and D Duncan Keith "will represent them this year." Kane would "seem an appropriate exception to the two-per-team rule." He has been "invited to the media tour multiple times in the past, and, as one of America’s elite players, U.S. television rights-holder NBC Sports normally would consider his involvement appealing." Charged or not, Kane’s "stardom continues to get overshadowed by the allegations." He is "losing face, losing the ability to represent the NHL and losing opportunities to make money off his name." EA Sports last month "dropped Kane as spokesman and cover boy for its 'EA Sports NHL 16' video game." Kane’s junior team, the OHL London Knights, also "abandoned plans to call one of their training camp squads Team Kane" (BUFFALO NEWS, 9/8).
