As of Thursday night no charges had been filed, but the News reported that Kane's home in Hamburg, New York, was searched by police officers Sunday night, with at least one officer wearing gloves while they explored the house.

The Hawks and Kane's agent both issued statements Thursday saying -- essentially -- nothing, that they're attempting to gather facts before commenting further.

But guilty or not -- and Kane is presumed innocent unless proven otherwise -- it's fair to wonder what becomes of Kane's image and career in Chicago.

The Hawks have invested another $84 million in the superstar winger, an eight-year contract that begins with the upcoming NHL season, and the Hawks had thought he was past putting himself in compromising situations.

As the story had been written repeatedly, Kane has had a girlfriend for a couple of years, was taking his job and training seriously and would no longer be as big a threat off the ice as he was on it.

So much for that narrative.

Whether or not he did something horrific this time, Kane appears to have put himself in a bad spot and again embarrassed himself and the hockey team, a hockey team that prides itself on the brand and the optics.

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