Kane without the pain

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This article was published 09/02/2015 (3930 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Early in Patrick Kane’s NHL career it seemed nary a month passed before a photo or so-called eyewitness account of the Blackhawks star enjoying himself — often a little too much — while out on the town would pop up on the Internet or light up social media.

Kane became a popular target for websites, regardless of their accuracy. Some of the accounts were true — as Kane has acknowledged — and some were false.

There is no question, however, Kane was enjoying the fruits of being a young and affable professional athlete who helped resurrect one of hockey’s storied franchises.

These days, the dynamic winger’s exploits on the ice — and not off it — are seizing the headlines. What happened to the free spirit from Buffalo who at one point seemed to be on the path to jeopardizing his career with his fun-loving ways?

Kane apparently grew up.

In the summer, he surrounds himself with family and friends in his hometown and spends much of the time working out, playing in pick-up hockey games and relaxing at his house that sits along a lake.

During the season when the spotlight shines brightest, Kane goes to dinner with teammates while on road trips. The next stop is usually the safe haven of his hotel room.

“Sometimes it’s nice just being in your own room and having a quiet night and relaxing and getting ready for the game,” Kane told the Tribune. “That’s kind of where my focus is now, just trying to prepare myself as best I can and focus on the next game.”

Would a 21-year-old Kane believe what the now 26-year-old Kane is saying — that life is better in the solitude of a hotel room and not in bars and nightclubs?

“No, times have changed for sure,” he said. “It’s totally different than where I used to be. I always loved the game and I always tried to do my best, but the preparation is just at a different level now.”

Here’s the thing about keeping a low profile in the days when everyone has a cell phone and they’re not bashful to take photos or video with them: Stay on the straight and narrow and there is nothing unflattering to document.

“It’s tough, but it’s part of the deal these days,” Kane said of being in the public eye. “One thing that has really changed is the social media with Twitter and everything. Once that came out, at the time you don’t know how big it is and how much of an affect it can have on you. If you do something wrong it’s going to be all over the place. Not only does that go for me, but anyone in here. You just really have to be aware of it.”

‘He has grown up. He’s very confident in himself on and off the ice’

— teammate Patrick Sharp, on Kane

But Kane hasn’t evolved into a wallflower. As one of the most recognizable sports figures in Chicago and North America and a player who is set to rake in $13.8 million next season — excluding endorsement money — he likes to have his fun. Kane is just improving on the ways he’s having it.

“I feel I’m getting better for sure,” he said. “I’m still 26 years old. I still feel that’s fairly young. I feel like the growth has been pretty good.”

Hawks coach Joel Quenneville has been around for seven of Kane’s eight seasons in the NHL and agrees with that assessment.

“He has matured (more) as an individual and as a player every year,” Quenneville said.

Added close friend and teammate Jonathan Toews: “He’s laid back. He knows the things he needs to do to be successful and stay focused. He has learned more about himself as a person and a player.”

Not coincidentally, along with Kane’s growth as an individual has come a raised level of play for the Hawks. Already one of the NHL’s top stars, Kane has elevated himself to the upper echelon of players this season and is a legitimate Hart Trophy candidate as the league’s most valuable player. Kane was tied for the NHL scoring lead with 58 points and his 26 goals ranked seventh in the league after Sunday’s win against the Blues.

“He has been so consistent for us,” Toews said. “Even nights when scoring is tough and maybe as a team we aren’t creating much, he still finds ways to get on the board and create for our team. He definitely has proven that he is one of the best in the world.”

Another long-time teammate, winger Patrick Sharp, has seen Kane improve in all aspects.

‘He’s laid back. He knows the things he needs to do to be successful and stay focused. He has learned more about himself as a person and a player’

— Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews, on Kane

“He has grown up,” Sharp said. “He’s very confident in himself on and off the ice.”

Kane’s growing pains away from the game, which throughout the years included the ill-fated cab ride in Buffalo, the limo excursion in Vancouver and the Cinco de Mayo festivities in Madison, Wis., might bring some level of regret, but they aren’t something Kane ignores.

“Everyone has their own little route,” he said. “Everything that I went through made me who I am today and the player I am today.”

 

— Chicago Tribune