Patrick Kane ready to elevate game to the next level

At only 22-years-old, Patrick Kane has already done more in four seasons in the NHL than most hockey players accomplish in an entire career. But the former Stanley Cup champion and Olympic silver medalist still thinks he can do more and take his game to another level.

“It’s kind of crazy to think I’m still 22 and going into my fifth season,” Kane told the Chicago Tribune. “Time has been flying by. I think it’s about that time I really take the next step to the elite level.”

In 317 NHL games over four seasons, Kane has amassed 103 goals and 200 assists, good for almost a point-per-game pace that has catapulted him into the top tier of young talent taking over the NHL. But Kane hopes that better focus and more consistency can propel him to become one of the game’s elite talents.

“I’ve kind of been around that same pace the last two, three, maybe even four years,” said Kane, who had 27 goals and 46 assists in 73 games last season. “It would be nice to take that next step and really kind of put myself up in the best two, three, four or five offensive players in the league.”

Offseason surgery to repair a fracture in his left wrist limited Kane’s training this summer, but with the injury nearly healed Kane is using training camp to show his determination – even if it means skating in extra scrimmages if he doesn’t feel like he got enough of a work out.

That’s exactly what happened on Sunday when Kane didn’t feel like he got enough ice time during practices, so he approached his doctors about playing in a scrimmage that day. Kane promptly scored two goals and added an assist during the game, all while wearing a brace on his wrist to prevent further injury as his wrist heals.

“I’m a little bit more focused and I’m taking strides to be the best player I can,” Kane said. “I’m still not there yet, but hopefully I will be.”

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *