Agreed. I think posters need to consider the possibility here that the Flames used the language they did in their initial release because it reflected a reality. Meditate on the phrasing "in the care of health professionals".
Consider that this release was days before any of the other releases by other teams which ultimately ended up relating to this.
How many days before was it? I think it was before the news article and a day or two before Hart. If he was indeed in the hands of medical professionals, that statement could have been a few days later too. IIRC, Dube was first to go on leave by a little bit of a time gap.
The allegations have been known for years but the pending charges not know by the Flames is plausible. Am I mistaken in that I think I think I recall that the police were supposed to say something in December? Dube could have gotten wind of it earlier and the Flames and other insiders found out a few days later. Still though, personal leave alone as they did Kylington would have been the better bet. I agree.
This situation is ugh. How do we find the Flames org in such huge PR tire fires? Wideman, Peters vs Babcock, Dube/Ronni... Also have the not fun stuff of Snowy on the side.
I really don't think they're intentionally trying to hide Dube's guilt and I definitely would take a break as a fan for a bit if indeed that was true. I admire what they've done for ALS/Snowy and Kylington/mental health. I wouldn't let the Dube situation delete that for me.
And anyone saying the Flames org should say more don't understand how both law and PR work. Flames saying more for Dube is why they look bush league right now. Saying less is more. No need to add more crap mumbling statements to look dumber once they've made that first misstep. They're better off doing what they've done so far and commenting carefully only after more details are revealed by police on Feb 5.
I'm not going to aim at the org for now and speculate cover-up or not. This topic alone is exhausting and depressing just contemplating and following up on it.
I wonder if now that he is formally charged if the Flames, or maybe the NHL might terminate the contracts? There isn't really a good historical comparison but Mike Richards had his contract terminated after being hit with drug charges.
I think I read Voynov is a good comparable contract wise. Weirdly enough, Perry's recent one might be too.