Patrick Kane is definitely mindful he has been the topic of rampant industry hypothesis for months. The Chicago Blackhawks’ winger just does not imagine the hype.
“It was all just rumors,” Kane stated on Thursday from Chicago’s coaching camp media availability. “A lot of the rumors are just rumors, maybe people looking for things to talk about in August when nothing’s really going on with hockey, right? I don’t think there have been any legitimate discussions between other teams and the Blackhawks.”
Kane, 33, is getting into the general season of his 8-yr, $84 million contract, proper as Chicago is knee-deep in a rebuild that might cross on for years. That’s been the foundation for intensifying theories round whether or not Kane — or Blackhawks’ captain Jonathan Toews, additionally within the ultimate yr of a deal just like Kane’s — might be at the transfer.
Blackhawks’ normal supervisor Kyle Davidson has insisted he isn’t brokering talks round Chicago’s superstars. Nevertheless, Kane’s title trended time and again on social media right through overdue summer time, and buddies saved him within the loop — love it or no longer — on the newest Internet rumblings about his long term.
“You pay attention to it a little bit at first, and then you block it out after that,” Kane stated. “It is what it is.”
The identical might be stated for the place Chicago is these days. After a decade-longer term of luck that incorporated 3 Stanley Cup victories, the Blackhawks are neatly right into a long restructuring and projected to be one among this NHL’s worst groups this season. How lengthy it takes for Chicago to recuperate is any person’s wager. And at this level, Kane stated he hasn’t talked to the Blackhawks a few doable extension to stick on previous the 2022-23 marketing campaign.
“There really hasn’t been much discussion on anything,” Kane stated. “It’s not anything we’ve really discussed. I think we all know the situation and what could potentially happen, but it’s not really anything I’m thinking about yet. We’ll see how everything plays out.”
If the rest, the previous few months have taught Kane to be expecting the sudden. Davidson despatched shockwaves thru Chicago — and the hockey international at huge — when he traded winger Alex DeBrincat to Ottawa in July. Kane and DeBrincat have been longtime linemates and Chicago’s most sensible scorers every of the previous two years (Kane led the best way with 91 issues in 2021-22, just forward of DeBrincat’s 78).
The DeBrincat transfer absolutely signaled Chicago’s exchange in path and was once in my opinion gutting for Kane.
“That’s disappointing; it was kind of crushing at first,” Kane stated of DeBrincat’s departure. “Not only did we have some great chemistry on the ice, but he was one of my best friends and closest teammates off the ice, too… we really pushed each other. He’s definitely a guy I’ll miss playing with.”
Kane will as an alternative open this coaching camp on a line with Max Domi, who signed his one-yr loose agent contract with Chicago ultimate summer time. Domi was once one among a number of Davidson additions in an offseason that incorporated obtaining a brand new beginning goaltender in Petr Mrazek (introduced on by the use of industry with Toronto) and hiring head trainer Luke Richardson to exchange period in-between bench boss Derek King.
Getting to grasp the recent faces is the place Kane’s focal point lies. There isn’t any “nagging [injury] issue” maintaining him again forward of this camp love it did the previous two seasons, so general Kane stated he is feeling beautiful excellent. The veteran stated there are hindrances forward for the Blackhawks to fulfill head on, however Kane is assured Chicago can carry out higher than anticipated.
“Everyone has a pretty positive outlook on the season, and I think we want to prove a lot of people wrong,” he stated. “We’re all dealing with a new coach and new systems. It’ll be a challenge, but it’ll be good. We’ll just try to get the most out of this training camp and preseason and I’ll do what I can to get ready for the season, and help some guys along.”