The Chicago Blackhawks settled a lawsuit Friday with a former player who had been suing the organization for failing to act when informed of sexual assault allegations against a former video coach during the 2010 Stanley Cup playoffs.

The former player, under "John Doe," alleged the Blackhawks knew former video coach Brad Aldrich had sexually assaulted him in 2010 and failed to properly investigate the allegations. The Blackhawks previously settled a case with former player Kyle Beach when similar allegations were made against Aldrich and the organization stemming from the 2010 playoffs.

In a statement on Saturday, the Blackhawks said, "We acknowledge the case has been settled and will have no further comment on the matter."

Romanucci & Blandin, LLC, the law firm representing John Doe, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

John Doe's lawsuit was filed against the Blackhawks in Cook County (Ill.) Circuit Court in 2023 and had advanced to a trial date set for Oct. 27 of this year. Cook County Circuit Court Judge Barbara Flores denied a Blackhawks' motion in June for a summary judgment, permitting the case to proceed to trial.

The Blackhawks' summary judgment filing argued John Doe's claims exceeded the discovery rule's two-year statute of limitations and that he should have known of his injury by 2011 after the sexual assault was reported and Aldrich had left the Blackhawks. John Doe responded in court that his limitations were extended to October 2021, when the Blackhawks released Jenner & Block's independent report of the organization's response to the allegations made against Aldrich in 2010. The Blackhawks also replied that John Doe was relying on inadmissible evidence, including the independent report, and didn't have proof that the Blackhawks had fraudulently concealed information in 2010.

In the wake of the Jenner & Block report, the Blackhawks were fined $2 million by the NHL for what the league termed "inadequate internal procedures and insufficient and untimely response in the handling of matters" related to Aldrich, who remained on staff throughout the 2010 Stanley Cup Final even after the allegations were brought to the team's upper management. Aldrich also had his name etched onto the Cup (it has since been X'd out) and had his day with the trophy. Team executives John McDonough, Al MacIsaac, Jay Blunk, general manager Stan Bowman and head coach Joel Quenneville all were required to go through commissioner Gary Bettman for reinstatement. Bowman is now the GM of the Edmonton Oilers, and Quenneville is the head coach of the Anaheim Ducks. McDonough, MacIsaac and Blunk have remained out of the league.

Blackhawks settle lawsuit with former player John Doe