Who will attend? What will they do or say, if anything? The United Center event for the late Blackhawks owner will have Chicago fans talking, even if under their breaths.

The memorial for late Blackhawks owner Rocky Wirtz on Aug. 9 at the United Center could be a last hurrah for the many of the living as well.

The event also could help the Wirtz Family turn the page when it comes to its ownership of the Original Six NHL franchise. The timing coincides with the arrival of 2023 top draft pick Connor Bedard, the generational talent who should help Chicago start a new chapter on the ice.

Wirtz died suddenly on July 25 at age 70 after a short illness. The public memorial, “honoring the legacy” of the team’s chairman, figures to focus on Wirtz as a successful NHL franchise and business owner... who also cared about Chicago. It will surely give him credit for presiding over the Blackhawks' rise to the top of the league after taking over for his father, Bill, who died in 2007.

The Blackhawks became an exciting, relevant team in 2007 with the arrival of Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane. Chicago won three Stanley Cups in a six-year span, in 2010, 2013 and 2015, although it’s missed the playoffs in five of the past six seasons. 

Expect many prominent members of those Cup-winning teams to be at the event, even if they’re present only to pay their respects.

That includes Toews and Kane, both unrestricted free agents with uncertain futures as players.  The two franchise icons issued statements on Wirtz, calling out his genuineness and generosity.

For details on the ceremony, see our story at https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/chicago-blackhawks/news/blackhawks-wirtz-family-announce-rocky-wirtz-memorial-event

It’s unknown if Toews has decided to retire after Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson said the team wouldn’t bring back its longtime captain.

Kane finished 2022-23 with New York Rangers after a trade, but he’s recovering from hip resurfacing surgery, a procedure that’s an alternative to a hip replacement. Kane 34, seems to be mending well and might get an offer from a team around the start of the season. His agent, Pat Brisson, has said Kane wants to play for a long time.

Probably not again with the Blackhawks, but No. 88 could show up at the United Center on Aug. 9.

Toews’ return to the ice is iffier. His presence at the memorial is likely. 

Other former players may be on hand. It could be a chance for fans to see the likes of Brent Seabrook, Duncan Keith, Marian Hossa, Patrick Sharp (now an advisor with the Philadelphia Flyers, his first NHL team) and others for a last time.

When it comes to paying respects, will NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman attend? It would be completely fitting. If Bettman speaks, might it be the first time a crowd of hockey fans doesn’t boo him? After all, this will be a memorial service, even if levity can add a “feel-good factor.” 

Will these guys show up?

Will Stan Bowman and Joel Quenneville be at the event? They helped the Blackhawks become one of the NHL’s top franchises, but they played roles in the mishandling of the Kyle Beach sexual assault scandal that rocked the team and the league. 

Beach was Chicago's first-round draft pick in 2008. He came forward with a lawsuit more than a decade after he claimed Brad Aldrich, then the Blackhawks video coach, abused him in May 2010. 

Bowman was the Blackhawks general manager during the Cup run years. Quenneville was the head coach. Per an independent investigation commissioned by the Blackhawks, both were made aware of Beach's encounter with Aldrich shortly after it happened.

Then there’s John McDonough, who had had been team president since 2007, joining the Blackhawks from the Chicago Cubs. It would be stunning if the arrogant McDonough, fired in April 2020 after reportedly angering the Wirtzes, ever set foot in the United Center again.

McDonough may have played the lead role in mishandling Beach's assault allegations. 

Beach, 20 at the time, said the team largely ignored his claim that Aldrich forced him into a non-consensual sexual encounter. The investigation by Chicago law firm Jenner & Block was carried out in response to two lawsuits in 2021 after Beach came forward. The resulting report showed Blackhawks managers largely dismissed the player's complaint.

The fallout led to Bowman resigning in October 2021. Quenneville stepped down as coach of the Florida Panthers after meeting with Bettman. The NHL fined the Blackhawks $2 million for what Bettman said was "inadequate internal procedures and insufficient and untimely response in the handling of matters" relating to the accusation.

Per the Jenner & Block report McDonough, who ruled the team’s front office with an iron fist and strict policies, knew of Beach's claims. The question remains: Did he tell Rocky Wirtz? If so, when?

When informed in a meeting in May 2010 of the alleged assault on Beach, McDonough told others to “leave it to” him, per team employees interviewed in the investigation.

Employees interviewed in the Jenner & Block inquiry also described McDonough as “extremely controlling" and insistent on being "the final decision-maker” on virtually everything.

The investigation, however, found no evidence that Wirtz Family members aware of the allegations before the lawsuit was brought to their attention in 2021. Danny Wirtz became the team’s president CEO after McDonough was released.

McDonough never assumed any accountability, issued a statement or responded to media requests after the Beach investigation. It's unknown if he's restricted by a non-disclosure agreement.

Yes, Rocky Wirtz snapped at a reporter at a town hall meeting in February 2022 when asked about the Beach affair. It was the absolute wrong reaction and a completely unforced, avoidable mistake, especially for a businessman with his pedigree. Although Wirtz apologized, the incident sullied his reputation. 

But one thing was clear. The revelations on the Beach incident truly shook Wirtz. The matter put him on an emotional defensive when it came to his family's reputation and tradition. 

Despite the investigation's official findings, we may never really know when Rocky Wirtz really knew about the Beach assault claim.