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| Patrick Kane's game is growing more complete game in and game out; that's a wonderful sign for USA Hockey (Credits: Charles Rex Arbogast/AP Photo) |
You never can doubt Patrick Kane. On the ice he's a man possessed. A wizard with the stick. A sizzler on the skates. Sometimes you watch this guy and your mind has a difficult time processing what's he's doing. How does he think of it? How are his hands so deft? How does he not out think his own skates? Patrick Kane is a playmaker's playmaker.
But there's always been concern with him. He's 24 years old, a kid by NHL standards. Yet, he's been in the league five seasons. That's a veteran's amount of years, right? Well he's still a kid and he has acted like it all too often off the ice. Blackout at college parties. Punching out cab driver's. Shit-eating grin, a staple of his. But nonetheless, he's never really let it get to him on the ice. He's consistently put up points throughout his career. The off-the-ice stuff will subside over time, it has to. On the ice, however? Well on the ice, he's becoming a new man, a leader.
Now you look at the Blackhawks and you can look no further than Jonathan Toews. He's the captain. The pulse. The golden boy of Chicago. He's never made a mistake in his life. He always has the right thing to say. He's almost the complete opposite of Kane. And yet something about Kane is so much more appealing. Whether it's his daring play or his fiery celebrations, people gravitate toward Chicago's bad boy.
Lost in the mix of Kane's windmill cellys, his mouthguard dangling the entire game and his ridiculous fake Twitter is a man who is growing before our very eyes. He may still be slamming thirty racks of Natty like he's a healthy scratch on the Lake Forest College team, but his on-ice transformation is hard to ignore. More points that Toews. Same +/-. A higher shot percentage than the captain. Patrick Kane is leading the Blackhawks toward glory, for a second time. His 28 points in 22 games in the Blackhawks 2010 Stanley Cup run was impressive. He made plays at an alarming rate, but it was nowhere the complete style of play he's displaying now.
And then Saturday night we watched Kane not only net a hat-trick, but we watched him own the game. He was all over the ice, making plays everywhere and providing the offensive composure necessary for a team to get to where Chicago has gotten. There wasn't a chance this team was excited to go back to Los Angeles for a Game 6 against a team who has lost at home only once all playoffs. Kane wouldn't let it happen. The apprentice has transformed into the master.
Kane had 5 points in six Olympic games in 2010. He was a +4. He was very much apart of a young core of players who almost pulled off a miracle upset against a far more talented Canadian squad. This time around with Kane and his young teammates growing, the United States has a legitimate shot at Olympic Gold. This time around it won't be a surprise. This time around the U.S. squad will be expected to produce on the Olympic stage. They might even be favorites. Guys like Zach Parise, Erik Johnson, Jack Johnson, Ryan Callahan, Bobby Ryan, Paul Stastny and Ryan Kesley are all coming back at the peak of their primes. Oh and the United States has the best goaltender in the league, Jonathan Quick, who is primed to be be the newest version of the Berlin Wall.
Canada on the other hand? There team is going to have a new look and a new feel to it. Yes, it will provide the same Canadian depth and talent, but will the experience be an issue? Their goaltending trio is a mess. Three of their seven defensemen probably won't return. Five forwards most likely will be replaced. The leadership roles will be filled by familiar faces, but other key components to the team will be left up to new men. USA, at least experience-wise, will have the upper hand.
Then you just think of what the free-wheeling, speed bursting, slick handed Kane will do this time around. You just salivate when you watch Saturday's night hat-trick happen on the grandest of stages. You think of Kane just undressing Drew Doughty, burying the biscuit and flying into one of his patented, electric celebrations. It makes you want to jump out of your seat right now. But then you realize you have to wait eight months to chant "U-S-A" at the top of your lungs while Kaner and co. fly around with no regard for humanity and plenty of regard for twine.
Enjoy the show during the next two weeks. The next time you see Patrick Kane in the spotlight, he'll be rocking the red, white and blue and doing it with the upmost pride.
It's on Canada, see you soon.
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