from Tim Graham of the Buffalo News,

The National Hockey League and the Chicago Blackhawks do not want Patrick Kane representing their brands.

The Buffalo News has learned that Kane was not invited to the NHL’s annual preseason commercial shoot Tuesday and Wednesday, when the top 40 veteran players gather to make television promos that will appear throughout the coming season.

The NHL and the Blackhawks mostly have been silent on Kane’s status since a woman accused him of raping her Aug. 2 at his lakefront mansion in the Town of Hamburg. Not inviting the four-time All-Star to this year’s commercial shoot shows that the NHL and the Blackhawks want to keep their distance from one of the world’s most identifiable players.

The News, citing multiple sources, reported Friday that the rape investigation was nearing an end and that the case would be presented to a grand jury this week.

The NHL did not respond to a request for comment on the decision not to invite Kane.

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added 6:46am on 9/8/15, Numerous changes have been made to the original article, clicking the link to the Buffalo News will show that.