from Cari Grieb at The Sporting News,

The NHL, like other professional sports leagues, has become mired in controversy over domestic violence and sexual assault without taking a strong stand. Much of this league detachment can be attributed to the media and the Internet, which has overly-sensationalized athlete controversies in the Post-Ray Rice era, and has made fans equally desensitized.

Last September, Commissioner Gary Bettman took an active stance against domestic violence and sexual assault while speaking in Toronto. In the months since, he has expressed no interest in negotiating a domestic violence and sexual assault policy with the NHL Players Association; to the Commissioner’s Office, its current laissez faire approach to discipline is working fine.

The ongoing investigation into rape allegations facing the Blackhawks’ Patrick Kane and the lack of action on both the league-wide and team level, illuminates the acute, pervasive issue for America’s fourth most popular professional sport.

Since the commencement of the Kane investigation, the NHL has sat idly by, waiting for a charge to be filed against the three-time Stanley Cup champion before taking any disciplinary action.

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