Kane has 'a lot left on the table' entering Blackhawks training camp

CHICAGO -- Patrick Kane is at a different stage in his career, but he still has plenty left to do.

“You’re 37, turning 38 (in November) and accomplished some great things, but it still feels like there’s a lot left on the table and a lot left to accomplish because these guys haven’t done it and they’re pushing to do it,” the Chicago Blackhawks forward said. 

“It’s encouraging because when you make a decision and sign with the team, it’s going to be something new, but especially the way the last few weeks have gone with the team on and off the ice, hanging out with them, being around them, it feels like the right decision.”

Kane, who signed a two-year, $16 million contract ($8 million average annual value) on July 23, begins his 20th season in the NHL and his second stint with the Blackhawks. The first time around, he was one of the faces of the franchise from 2007-23, helping Chicago win the Stanley Cup three times (2010, 2013, 2015).

After helping the franchise return to prominence, he’s here to try and do it again. This time, he has even more clout: Kane was named alternate captain on Tuesday, the same day Connor Bedard was named captain. 

“When we talk about the leadership stuff, everything we dream of and want to accomplish as a team, we watched him do,” Bedard said at Tuesday's press conference. “He’s still one of the best players in the League, and that’s just going to add so much. It’s been fun getting to know him and learn from him. Just a great guy to have on the team and we’re really happy to have him.”

The Blackhawks’ young group includes forwards Bedard and Roman Kantserov (each 21), Frank Nazar (22) and Anton Frondell (19), and defensemen Artyom Levshunov (20) and Sam Rinzel (22). 

“He’s going to lead by example,” Nazar said of Kane last week at the NHL/NHLPA North American Player Media Tour in Las Vegas. “Look at what he’s done and the history he’s had. Every guy in the room is like going to run through a wall for this guy.

“If he’s not happy with how we’re playing or how things are going, guys are going to look in the mirror, at least that’s how I feel. I’m sure everybody else feels that way.”

Yes, pretty much everyone does feel that way and it’s easy to understand why. Kane is nicknamed “Showtime” for a reason -- he’s performed consistently throughout his career.

Kane has 1,400 points (508 goals, 892 assists) in 1,369 career games with Chicago, the New York Rangers and Detroit Red Wings. He has 138 points (53 goals, 85 assists) in 143 Stanley Cup Playoff games. 

He ranks third in Blackhawks history in goals (446) behind Hockey Hall of Famers Bobby Hull (604) and Stan Mikita (541), and second in assists (779) and points (1,225). Mikita had 926 assists and 1,467 points. Kane is third on the franchise's all-time list with 1,161 games played behind Mikita (1,396) and former defenseman Duncan Keith (1,192).

Kane scored his 500th NHL goal on Jan. 8 and broke Mike Modano's record for points by a United States-born player with No. 1,375 on Jan. 29. He reached 1,400 points on April 13.

Named one of the 100 Greatest Players in NHL history during the League's Centennial celebration in 2017, Kane has always gravitated to younger players. He loves talking to them, working with them and staying on the ice with them after practice is over.

“It’s fun hanging out with these guys because I think they’re getting more comfortable with me and starting to make fun of me and things like that,” Kane said with a laugh. “I’m glad they’re feeling comfortable with me, and I want that. I want to be part of the group and just one of the guys. I don’t want to be the guy that’s looked upon to be above the group or anything like that. I want to be one of the group and help the team as much as I can to win games and take the next step as a team.”

And the players are ready to learn from him.

“It’s extremely rare and good research for us younger guys to have,” Frondell said. “He has a lot of experience. He played here for a lot of years and he won three Cups here. So, he knows how that feels, how it is to win here. I think he can teach us a lot of things.”

At the start of training camp on Thursday, Kane skated with center Nazar and left wing Kantserov, who’s expected to make his NHL debut this season. That group could start the season, but would likely change once Bedard returns; the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NHL Draft had surgery on his left shoulder for an injury sustained during offseason training in July and is expected back in November.

Regardless of who plays with Kane, they’ll learn and likely boost their production because Kane knows how and when to get the puck to players. This is familiar territory for Kane, albeit with different faces.

He’s ready to roll. The Blackhawks play their season opener at the Vegas Golden Knights on Sept. 29.

“I feel like I can really help them, you know?” Kane said. “Just kind of watching them in skates and the ability and the skill and the talent, and I still think there’s another level on top of that if you can, I don’t want to say learn how to play the game but learn different situations. The way to attack offensively, the way to kind of isolate guys, different things like that.

“I’m in the same boat. I’m trying to learn the way these guys are playing, the way our team wants to play, what the philosophy behind all that is going to be, power play stuff. It’s going to be a short training camp. We’re going to have to get a lot in in a short amount of time, but I’m really excited about the group.”