from Damien Cox of Sportsnet,

Innocent until proven guilty, right? True enough, but it’s not so simple for Kane, or the Blackhawks, or the NHL, when it comes to allegations he sexually assaulted a women during the off-season at his lakeside mansion in Buffalo.

Details remain sketchy, or partial, and a grand jury called to deal with the matter was abruptly postponed on Tuesday, leading to another round of speculation about Kane, his accuser and where all this is heading.

Let’s be clear: Kane is at present the most high profile American player in the league. Stars like Mike Modano, Chris Chelios, Brian Leetch and others have retired, and until the likes of Auston Matthews and Jack Eichel hit the big stage in a big way, Kane is the marquee U.S. player.

And now he may not play for a while, depending on a whole lot of variables too complicated to explain in a simple paragraph.

But this is potentially a huge problem for the NHL at a time when all leagues are having to tred very carefully each time one of their players is accused of a crime that gets its fan base upset, not to mention people outside its fan base.

more including a video/audio piece with David Haugh of the Chicago Tribune talking Kane with Prime Time Sports.