SIMMONS SUNDAY: Still so many unanswered questions after lid blown off Blackhawks scandal

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The hockey partitions have already come tumbling down and but there nonetheless appear to be so many questions within the wake of the gorgeous revelations by alleged abuse sufferer Kyle Seashore.

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Joel Quenneville, the second-winningest coach in hockey historical past — solely Scotty Bowman is forward of him — it out as coach in Florida. Most likely eternally.

Stan Bowman, named after the Stanley Cup by his legendary father Scotty, is out as common supervisor in Chicago. His hockey profession in all probability over.

Each have been headed for the Corridor of Fame. Each have been central to a three-time Stanley Cup champion. Now they’re names disgraced for the function wherein they performed — or selected to disregard — within the sexual-abuse case of Seashore, the previous first-round draft choose of the Chicago Blackhawks.

Up to now, no verbal apology from Bowman, no verbal apology from Quenneville, no verbal apology from Kevin Cheveldayoff, who stays with the Winnipeg Jets as common supervisor, all of them seemingly appearing on authorized recommendation. And there was an apology from Teflon Don Fehr, head of the NHL Gamers’ Affiliation, whose group has a historical past of wanting the opposite method and pretending issues will go away.

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We do know that video coach Brad Aldrich allegedly abused Seashore, after which was stored with the workforce, in his place, allowed to take part in Stanley Cup celebrations, had his identify carved on to the Cup, had his day with the Cup, all of that taking place after the Blackhawks have been conscious of the horrible circumstances.

Who made these calls? The detailed authorized report doesn’t reveal that. Who determined to present Aldrich a day with the Cup? Who determined he could be a part of the parade? Who may probably suppose that method?

This isn’t new for the NHL or the NHLPA.

The 12 months earlier than Invoice Wirtz, former proprietor of the Blackhawks, handed away, leaving the workforce to his sons, he wrote a letter to the PA and copied it to NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and his deputy, Invoice Daly. Within the letter, he complained in regards to the Mike Danton-David Frost scenario, which I later wrote a ebook about. He referred to as it “the worst occasion that I’ve skilled in fifty years related to the NHL.”

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Wirtz blamed then-director Bob Goodenow for permitting the certification of Frost as an agent. “Briefly,” he wrote, “I’m appalled by the dealing with of this time bomb.”

Backward in some ways as an NHL proprietor, Wirtz was an enormous advocate for private security in hockey in any respect ranges. His sons now are left in Chicago with a multitude to scrub up, probably not of their very own doing, and a company to rebuild within the entrance workplace and on the ice.

THIS AND THAT

The Florida Panthers have an enormous resolution to make in hiring their coach to interchange Quenneville. They’ve a workforce able to competing for the Stanley Cup. Now they want a coach who can get them there. Phrase is they could go on a budget and retain assistant Andrew Brunette. This isn’t a time to be counting pennies … Eddie Olczyk is the favorite to get the pinnacle hockey place with the Blackhawks. The rationale, except for understanding the workforce, the sport and the league, is that Olczyk is massively well-liked as a tv commentator in Chicago. The Blackhawks have to do one thing to appease an offended fan base. One other good GM candidate: Broadcaster Kevin Weekes … Phrase is the Hawks are simply placing their listing of candidates collectively. Whoever winds up as GM will want a brand new coach fairly rapidly … After studying the legal professionals’ report on the Seashore investigation, I agreed with Bettman’s resolution to not penalize Cheveldayoff. Primarily based on their findings, there didn’t appear a motive to push Cheveldayoff out the way in which they wanted to push out Quenneville and, earlier than him, Bowman … I totally consider there are extra alleged Aldrich victims on the market that we could by no means hear from … Who determined to make Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane accessible to reply questions on Seashore the opposite night time? That is once you want somebody to arrange your athletes earlier than they speak, so that they don’t embarrass themselves, which they did … The Blackhawks have been fined $2 million for his or her half within the alleged Aldrich abuse. For the document, that’s $1 million lower than the New Jersey Devils have been fined years in the past for salary-cap circumvention within the signing of Ilya Kovalchuk …. There’s no actual equal of the Pulitzer Prize in Canadian journalism, but when there was, TSN’s Rick Westhead could be deserving of it for the vital work he has carried out on the Seashore story. And the interview, should you haven’t seen it, must be watched and processed. It’s laborious to get via, however you have to get via it.

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HEAR AND THERE

The great a part of the Morgan Rielly contract extension — an excellent man will spend the subsequent eight seasons signed with the Maple Leafs at an inexpensive worth by hockey requirements. The troubling a part of the deal: The Leafs could have some extent man on the ability play for the subsequent eight years who nonetheless can’t shoot … What the Leafs hardly ever do: Deflect a shot from the purpose or tip in a rebound off a slap shot, as a result of they nonetheless don’t have anybody with a big-time slap shot on the blue line. Eighty-two targets have been scored by NHL defencemen heading into Saturday afternoon. The Leafs didn’t have any of them … Justin Holl deserved to be benched. He’s performed terribly within the early season, however then so has his associate, Jake Muzzin, who appears to be like both gradual or injured … Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe ultimately has to get again to enjoying Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner collectively. Marner is the creator. Matthews is the shooter. When Matthews performs with the proficient William Nylander, each demand the puck too typically. Each are shooters. They don’t essentially complement one another … For Jerry Rice to change into Jerry Rice, he wanted Joe Montana and Steve Younger, two Corridor of Fame facilitators … I’m completely happy for Matthews that he’s on the duvet of ESPN The Journal, completely happy that he’s received a Movember promotion happening, completely happy that he’s in a position to put on no matter he desires to video games as a way to categorical himself, completely happy that he appears extra emotionally concerned in Leafs video games than previously. However what would actually make most followers completely happy is that if he began scoring. Heading into Saturday night time, he had no power-play factors, one purpose and simply two in his previous 13 video games, that coming after scoring 12 within the earlier 12. Massive-time scorers are traditionally streaky: It’s pretty much as good a time as any with the fairly determined Leafs to get one going … Mike Babcock’s favorite stat, purpose differential, doesn’t look good for the Leafs. At minus-9, they’re second-worst within the Japanese Convention, fourth-worst within the NHL, forward of these winless giants, the Blackhawks, and the Arizona Coyotes … The Leafs, who rent virtually all people, have to discover a front-office place for Jason Spezza upon his retirement. And never only a title — one thing significant, if that’s what he desires.

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SCENE AND HEARD

That is an odd Raptors workforce, however there’s nothing odd about first-round choose Scottie Barnes. He’s actual and he’s going to be spectacular. In his first six video games, he’s averaging 17.7 factors a recreation and greater than eight rebounds. In Chris Bosh’s first six NBA video games as a Raptor, the longer term Corridor of Famer averaged 5.8 factors a recreation and simply over 4 rebounds … The Miami Warmth are surprised — repeat, surprised — by how little scoring and taking pictures Kyle Lowry is doing and the way significantly better he’s making their workforce … Media relations is a tricky enterprise within the sports activities world. Usually you may’t win. You’re working for a workforce, attempting to appease the media, and eternally wobbling on a tightrope. Roven Yao, who’s leaving the Raptors, was splendidly balanced. He will probably be sadly missed by his workforce and by those that cowl it … Friday night time towards the despicable Houston Astros, that was probably the most spectacular Ian Anderson has been since his final Jethro Tull live performance … Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred, who’s often fallacious with most factors of view, actually believes there’s nonetheless a spot for the chop at Atlanta Braves video games. In immediately’s world? Actually? … And never as dumb, however equally foolish, is PETA’s criticism that the phrase “bullpen” must be modified in baseball. The place does these items come from? … If we’re right here in Canada, and we’re a part of Main Baseball League Baseball, why can we get the inferior worldwide feed for World Sequence video games on Sportsnet? It’s not the identical as FOX. It’s not pretty much as good. I would like Joe Buck and John Smoltz on my Sportsnet stations … He’s not as humorous or folksy as John Gibbons, however Braves supervisor Brian Snitker appears to have the same worth set. He manages his personal method, his personal choices, not caring a lot about what critics say … Six of the CFL’s 9 groups are scoring fewer than 23 factors a recreation. The Buffalo Payments and Dallas Cowboys are scoring 34 factors a recreation. Tampa is scoring 33. The CFL has to determine the place its offence has gone … Marcus Semien has employed Scott Boras as his agent. Don’t know if that’s an excellent factor or a nasty factor for the Blue Jays, however I do know it’s an costly factor for any individual … I perceive utilizing an opener in the midst of the season, to present your pitching employees a break. However throughout the World Sequence? Smarter folks want to clarify.

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AND ANOTHER THING

Wade Belak, Rick Rypien and Derek Boogaard, three NHL fighters of word, died inside three months of one another in 2011. The NHL stated it could produce a report on the potential correlation of preventing, concussions, drug dependancy and alcoholism: If it did, nobody’s ever seen it … For those who watch the excellent Carolina Hurricanes play typically sufficient, you may make the case, and I do, that there must be a spot for Jordan Staal on Canada’s Olympic hockey workforce … And main the NHL in goals-against common: Frederik Andersen and James Reimer. Trustworthy … Two groups and too many accidents later, Nick Foligno hasn’t scored a purpose since he left the Columbus Blue Jackets … The NHL is a greater place when Sidney Crosby is enjoying in it … This Edmonton soccer workforce is so unhealthy it ought to contemplate altering its identify on the finish of the season … The most effective charity day of the 12 months, Street Hockey to Conquer Most cancers, was held north of Toronto on Saturday. Too unhealthy the climate didn’t cooperate. Most years, this one-day occasion brings in additional than $2 million. I missed not being there … Kyler Murray jogs my memory of Condredge Holloway. Comparable measurement. Comparable velocity. Comparable kinds … Operating again Derek Henry is the halfway-MVP within the NFL. 13 of the previous 14 MVPs have been quarterbacks. Solely Adrian Peterson in 2012 broke up the string. Henry has extra speeding yards himself than 25 groups do … Tom Brady is paid $41 million this season to play for Tampa. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell paid at the least $30 million in earnings tax final 12 months … Vegas claimed Michael Amadio on waivers from the Leafs on Saturday. Why? As a result of Mark Stone, Max Pacioretty, Alex Tuch, Nolan Patrick, and Mattias Janmark aren’t enjoying resulting from accidents. Count on Amadio again on waivers as soon as the hurting Golden Knights’ gamers return … Can’t bear in mind a 12 months wherein the NFC appears to be like this robust up prime: Dallas, Inexperienced Bay, Arizona, the Rams, Tampa all appear to be Tremendous Bowl contenders. The playoffs are going to be fascinating two months from now … I’m contemplating going out for Halloween on Sunday night time as Al’s Brother … Completely happy birthday to Eric Nesterenko (88), Dean Chynoweth (53), Cale Makar (23), Mickey Rivers (73), Nick Saban (70), Artemi Panarin (30), Antonio Davis (53), Devin Booker (25), John Lucas (68), Edge (48) and Mats Naslund (62) … And hey, no matter turned of Bobby Valentine?

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WHAT ABOUT RUSS?

The enlargement Seattle Kraken have carried out nearly every thing proper of their first weeks of enterprise. Their uniforms look nice. The workforce is enjoying fairly nicely for an enlargement workforce. The constructing appears spectacular.

There’s only one downside.

They didn’t invite Russ Farwell to their season opener or to any of the actions main as much as it. They didn’t name, they didn’t ship a ticket, a present basket. They principally ignored Farwell.

So who’s Russ Farwell, aside from the person who traded for Eric Lindros in Philadelphia and altered hockey there eternally?

He’s the man who has run the Seattle Thunderbirds Western Hockey League workforce for the previous 26 years. He now owns a chunk of the membership. He’s the man who has stored hockey alive in a spot the place, frankly, no one a lot cared about hockey earlier than the NHL got here to city.

When Ron Francis was enjoying in Pittsburgh, Farwell was operating the Flyers. Oddly, the 2 have apparently by no means met, by no means even had a dialog.

Out of respect for Farwell, and all he has carried out to maintain junior hockey alive within the state of Washington, it ought to have occurred lengthy earlier than final Saturday’s historic opener.

ssimmons@postmedia.com

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