Chicago Blackhawks: Patrick Kane can’t be stopped right now
The Chicago Blackhawks are lucky to have Patrick Kane healthy and going well this season. He has played so well this season and it isn’t going to waste (so far) because of the progress of a few young guys and good goaltending. He is getting into his 30s now and somehow is getting better. When the team was a loaded Stanley Cup contender, Kane wasn’t nearly as productive as he is right now. It is scary to think about what this version of Kane would be able to do on a team like that.
So far this season, Kane has nine goals and 21 assists for 30 points. He is tied with Mitch Marner for third in league scoring and only trails Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. Auston Matthews is right behind him with 29 points. Those are some of the best offensive players active in the game right now and they are all significantly younger than Kane. The fact that Kane is right there with them all at his age speaks volumes to how good of a player he actually is.
Chicago Blackhawks star can’t be stopped.
One thing that is notable about Kane’s season (and you can say this about the last few) is how much of a leader he has become. He wears an “A” on his sweater now and he deserves it. Jonathan Toews is the captain but with him out, Kane feels like the acting captain. If Toews ever left while Kane was still there, you would have to assume that he is the next one.
You were able to see some of that leadership in their most recent game. A big 6-5 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets helped the Hawks stay right there in the standings. When Brandon Hagel scored his first career NHL goal, Kane looked and celebrated like a proud dad. Hagel is a kid who has what he has because of hard work and determination so seeing Kane, a supremely talented player, support a young kid like that is really cool.
People are already talking about Patrick Kane as the best Chicago Blackhawks player of all time. Of course, he still has Bobby Hull and Stan Mikita to catch in some people’s eyes but it is hard to argue with all of the production and championships. As he crawls closer to them in points, it will be a real discussion. He currently has 398 goals and 654 assists for 1052 points in 993 games.
He has that big 400th career goal and 1000th game coming up so some exciting times are coming up here for number 88. When it is all said and done, in addition to being the greatest Blackhawk of all time, he may be the greatest American-born player of all time. It is incredible how much this guy has accomplished and he somehow seems to be getting better every day.
Hot. Rockford Ice Hogs finally have their first win of the season. light
Kane and the Hawks have another important one tonight against the Columbus Blue Jackets. This is a game between two teams in the middle of the pack of Central Division teams trying to make the playoffs. You can expect more brilliance from Patrick Kane and the kids here.