Scores less, does more

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This article was published 31/01/2015 (3935 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

His game might look different these days, but Winnipeg Jets forward Evander Kane insists all the board-crashing and aggressive forechecking and unselfish play that has made him so successful lately is no different than it’s ever been.

Indeed, as Kane sees it, the only thing that has changed of late is people are finally noticing his game is a lot more than the sum of his goals.

“I haven’t changed my game at all I don’t think. I just think it’s maybe being recognized a little bit more now. I’ve always done my best to contribute in different ways,” Kane said Friday after an optional skate at the MTS Centre.

“In terms of my style of play, it’s always been the same. If you watch the video, you’ll see the exact same thing… I don’t think anything’s really changed.

“I just think maybe people are viewing it differently. But for me and even the coach, I don’t think too much has changed.”

Kane has four goals and five assists in his last 10 games and has been an instrumental part of a third line that is of late finally giving the team some offensive depth and taking some pressure off the top two lines.

But while Kane’s offensive production has been earning some attention, it’s been all the things he’s been doing away from the puck that have been earning the most plaudits.

“It just shows how much he’s grown as a player,” says Kane linemate Chris Thorburn. “He’s understanding every facet of the game and using his skill and size and speed to his advantage, whether it’s creating space for his linemates or finishing a play.

“Kaner is able to do a lot of things. And now that he’s a little more focussed on doing everything, it’s made him a more all-around player and it’s been good for our team.”

So Kane has changed his game then? Not quite, says Thorburn. “I think this is stuff he’s also done in the past, but just not gotten the recognition.

“But I also think he’s doing it more so now. I think he’s taken it to heart that for this team to be successful, he has to be productive, but that doesn’t mean only scoring goals. Doing the little things — killing penalties, using his speed always, because he’s really fast — he’s doing a great job with all of that.

“And the more he understands, the more all these little things are going to lead to goals. That’s just the way it is with Kaner — once the puck is on his stick, he’s always got a chance to score. I’m sure he knows that and we know that. So for me, playing with him is just getting him the puck and getting him as many looks as you can.”

Jets head coach Paul Maurice was asked Friday if we are seeing any of his coaching handiwork in Kane’s evolution into what Thorburn describes as a more “all-around” player.

“No,” insisted Maurice. “There are some things he is good at. And we’ve encouraged him to bring that first most nights. And just work hard.

“At the end of the day, he’s big, he’s fast, he’s physical, he’s more willing to play in pain. And he’s helped the players around him.”

Kane has been dogged by injuries again this season, missing 15 of his team’s 50 regular season games. That’s served as a drag on his overall offensive production and he heads into Saturday night’s game at MTS Centre against the Dallas Stars just eighth in team scoring with 10 goals and 12 assists.

That’s a long way from the 30 goals he scored for the Jets in 2011-12 season and barely half the 19 goals he scored in 63 games for the Jets last season.

But with 32 games still to play this season and the puck starting to find the back of the net in recent weeks, Kane insists this chapter hasn’t yet been written.

“I think it’s been going a little bit better of late here, so that’s a positive,” says Kane. “I’ve been hurt and that’s definitely made things tougher. But there’s still a lot of hockey left. You never know what things are going to look like by the end of the year.”

JETSTREAM: The Jets announced Friday morning that F TJ Galiardi had cleared waivers and was reassigned to the AHL’s St. John’s IceCaps. And then Friday afternoon, the Jets announced they had recalled Galiardi after placing F Matt Halischuk on injured reserve.

paul.wiecek@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @PaulWiecek