Report: The NHL will not remove Brad Aldrich's name from the Stanley Cup

In the nearly 24 hours that have passed since former Chicago Blackhawks draft pick Kyle Beach came forward and revealed that he is in fact "John Doe" from the team's sexual assault scandal, it's been a whirlwind of outrage around the NHL.

Fans, media members and players have all come out condemning the Blackhawks' executive staff including former GM Stan Bowman and former head coach Joel Quenneville in their roles for essentially aiding and abetting convicted sexual predator Brad Aldrich. Bowman is out of a job now, of course, while Quenneville met with NHL commissioner earlier today while we wait the results of that meeting.

Aldrich served nine months in prison and was convicted for sexually assaulting a teenage boy in 2014, just four years after he was dismissed from the Blackhawks. But, as we now know, the Blackhawks allowed Aldrich to remain on staff for nearly a month after the team was made aware of his assault on Beach. The team included Aldrich in its Stanley Cup celebrations that offseason, even inviting him to a team party where Beach was also present. If that's not enough, he had his name engraved on the Stanley Cup for all eternity. Once that information became public, the fan backlash was outstanding.

Fans from all over the league are calling for Aldrich to have his name removed from the Stanley Cup, some are even calling for the entire team to have their championship roster removed from the Cup. But, according to TSN's Rick Westhead and the Toronto Sun's  Steve Simmons, that won't happen.

Westhead reports that when he pushed the NHL for information on whether or not they'd remove Aldrich's name, he was ignored.

Meanwhile, Simmons reports that the NHL will not remove Aldrich's name but that if they do modify the trophy they will simple "X" out his name.

There's a precedent for this of course from when infamous Edmonton Oilers owner Peter Pocklington included his father's name on the Cup without merit. Once the NHL discovered that the senior Pocklington had no part in the team's championship run, his name as covered in "XXXXXX".

And you know what? I actually like this idea better than just buffing out Aldrich's name entirely. By marking his name with "XXXXXXX" there's no hiding from his crimes. Let the next generation discover these strange X's and have them ask what it's all about. Let's not just sweep this disgusting act under the rug to never be spoken of again.

 Aldich's name is a disgrace to the Cup and he deserves to suffer the indignity of having people tell his despicable tale over and over and over again.