Last week, an investigation by the law firm Jenner & Block was released and detailed how the Blackhawks mishandled sexual assault allegations against former video coach Brad Aldrich in 2010.
The investigation resulted in resignations by Chicago general manager Stan Bowman and senior VP of hockey operations Al MacIsaac, as well as Florida Panthers coach Joel Quenneville, who was behind the Blackhawks’ bench at that time.
He said the NHL was insistent that the Blackhawks facilitated an independent investigation and reserved the right to “override or pursue any other course of action” if the league was dissatisfied with the how the investigation was conducted.
Deputy commissioner Bill Daly said the Blackhawks gave the league a “heads-up” in December about Beach’s allegations from Chicago team general counsel about potential civil litigation.
The league also was criticized for its actions after the report was released.
“The others had different context and different facts.
“I do not believe he bore any responsibility for the club’s failure to act appropriately.
“I think this situation, and the view of this that we expressed to the clubs on an ongoing basis, is that the people that work for you do their jobs.
That we have had, even prior to this, procedures and training and counseling in effect to ensure that the culture of hockey doesn’t encourage, and in fact prohibits, this type of activity.
“We’re going to have to be judged as we move forward.