MONDAY MAILBAG: Ask Kane

On select Mondays throughout the 2018-19 season, blackhawks.com will have answers to some fan-submitted questions. This week, we caught up with Patrick Kane and let him answer your questions while in San Jose for the NHL All-Star Weekend.
1. If you could pick any other job what would it be? Also, if you had to pick to be a different athlete, what sport would it be in? - Logan from Lake Cowichan, BC
Well, I grew up and my dad was the owner of a car dealership. So I always thought that was kind of my fallback plan if I didn't make the NHL. I'd probably have to say car salesman or owner of the dealership.
As far as sports, I thought I was a pretty good basketball player growing up. Obviously, I was a little bit shorter than probably your average basketball player so that probably wouldn't have worked out for me. I always thought I was pretty good at it.

2. Favorite spot to eat in the city? - Jake from Northbrook, IL
My favorite spot to eat in the city is… that's a good question! I'd have to go with a restaurant called Sepia. It's right in the West Loop.
3. What is your favourite part of the all-star weekend, and who do you look forward to play against? - Julia from Ontario
My favorite part of the weekend is probably just playing in the game. I think it's always fun talking with different players and mingling with some of the other guys and kind of hearing how their seasons are going and things like that. But I think the game is always the most fun part. As far as who I look forward to play against, maybe [Connor] McDavid. He's pretty scary in the three-on-three format.

4. I wanted to ask Kaner, what do you feel has been the biggest key to your continued success? - Nick from Batavia, IL
I just think you kind of learn different things about your body and what you need to do to make it feel good on a daily basis and be at your peak performance. That's been a big thing, but also as your career goes on sometimes you go through slumps and different things. I think the biggest thing is just having that confidence all the time. Playing with confidence and taking care of the body are probably the biggest things.
5. What is your favorite non-Blackhawks jersey in the NHL? - Eric from Chandler, AZ
That's a good question. I'd probably have to go with another Original Six team, the Montreal Canadiens. I think their jersey is pretty cool with the red, white and blue. It's pretty simple and it's been the same for a long time.
6. Besides your birth year, did the fact that you went 88th overall in the OHL draft effect your choice in jersey number? Big fan with lots of love :) - Sarah from Spring Hill, FL
Not really, to be honest with you. Phil McRae, who was a '90 birth year, and Sam Gagner, who was an '89 birth year, signed before me in London and they were picked 90 and 89 respectively. And when I came up, I was an '88 birth year, and they thought it'd be cool if I wore 88. That's how it came to be and ever since then I kind of fell in love with it.

7. What is your go-to stickhandling drill to increase your hand speed? - Maddox from Rochester, MN
To be honest, I like to get on the ice and just feel the puck. I start going slow and then once I start feeling good with that, I just pick up speed and then you do it until you're uncomfortable. I think that's the biggest thing, just work into it.
8. How much time do you spend studying the game & other teams? Do you have a specific method? ie you write stuff down. or do you just happen to absorb it & remember? - Agustina from Chicago
We'll watch video on certain teams. Certain teams have certain tendencies and you see what you have to do to break pressure against those teams. I don't think you're writing it down in a notebook or anything like that. You're just keeping it in the back of your mind.
9. Do you like pineapple on pizza? - Millie from San Diego, CA
I like pineapple… but not on pizza.
10. What is your favorite place to go on vacation when you actually get time to relax. - Barb from Van Buren, AR
I like to go to Cabo. It's a pretty short flight from Chicago to get everything you want. It's like three hours and then you're pretty much guaranteed perfect weather every time, mid-eighties and sunny. Can't really beat it.
11. Who is your favorite sister? - Jacqueline Kane from Buffalo
We'll go with Erica and Jessica. It's a tie. And Jackie is OK.
12. What do you see yourself doing after you are done playing hockey? I've always wondered how pro athletes envision their futures after the last game. Thank you. - Auntie Mar from Naperville, IL
I don't really know. That's a good question. I don't really think about it too much. I just try to stay focused on the game and play as long as I can. I'm not really sure, yet.
13. * Kaner,
Congrats on your 8th ASG. I'm a big fan.
Just wondering...which player had the primary assist on your first NHL goal? and your first NHL Playoff goal??
Also, do you think you'll ever win the ASG MVP?
#10 from Chicago*
So we're just pumping up Sharpy on this question, huh? First goal was Sharpy, first playoff goal was Sharpy and I know Sharpy won the MVP back in Carolina. But I think him and Corey Perry were wearing the same number at the time so they might have given Sharpy a few extra assists that might have been Corey Perry's. We always tease him about that. Hopefully some day I can tie Sharpy in All-Star Game MVPs.