CHICAGO (AP) — Once again, Patrick Kane took the ice for the start of training camp with the Chicago Blackhawks.
asserted
Kane → take → Blackhawks
That used to be his regular routine, but it was a different experience for him this time around.
asserted
it → use → him
Kane is getting used to his old surroundings as he begins his 20th NHL season in the same place where he started his career.
asserted
he → get → career
The veteran forward signed a $16 million, two-year contract with Chicago in free agency.
asserted
forward → sign → agency
“A lot of it is so familiar in a lot of ways, and then you get out there on the ice and you look at all the players out there and everyone’s completely different, right?” a chuckling Kane said Thursday.
asserted
Kane → get → players
Chicago is hoping the offseason additions of Kane and defenseman Bo Byram — alongside the growth of its young core — will help lift the team into contention in the rugged Western Conference.
asserted
additions → hop → Conference
The Blackhawks went 29-39-14 last year, an 11-point improvement from the previous season and still last in Central Division.
asserted
Blackhawks → go → Division
“We wouldn’t make some of the transactions we made if we didn’t believe there was a step to be had here,” general manager Kyle Davidson said.
asserted
Davidson → make → transactions
“Now, there’s a lot that goes into it. ...
asserted
that → ’ → it
It’s all about showing up and expecting something every night and we should expect to arrive and win.
asserted
we → ’ → something
And so, where that ends up at the end of the year, we’ll see.”
asserted
we → end → year
Going to the postseason with Chicago used to be an annual occurrence for Kane, who turns 38 in November.
asserted
who → go → November
He skated in playoff games with the Blackhawks for nine straight years beginning in 2009, winning the Stanley Cup in 2010, 2013 and 2015.
asserted
He → skate → 2010
Kane, who won the 2016 Hart Trophy as NHL MVP, isn’t the same player he was during those previous playoff runs.
asserted
he → win → runs
But he had 16 goals and 41 assists in 67 games with Detroit last season.
asserted
he → have → Detroit
He has at least 50 points in 18 of his 19 seasons.
asserted
He → have → seasons
“He’s still a great player,” Chicago goaltender Spencer Knight said.
asserted
Knight → ’ → ?
“You can tell the skill he has, his awareness on the ice with the puck and without the puck, so I think that’s something that’s going to really help us. ...
asserted
that → tell → us
I think he’s going to bring a lot of skill and talent out of a lot of other players, which is what I think will be so good for us.”
asserted
I → think → us
Kane skated on a line with Frank Nazar, 22, and rookie Roman Kantserov on the first day of camp.
asserted
Kane → skate → camp
Kantserov turns 22 on Sunday.
asserted
Kantserov → turn → Sunday
The Blackhawks open the season on Sept. 29 at Vegas, so coach Jeff Blashill doesn’t have much time to tinker with his lines.
asserted
Blashill → open → lines
“Patrick is a super high IQ hockey player, and a lot of give-and-go to his game,” Blashill said.
asserted
Blashill → go → game
“Both Frankie and Roman can play some of that give-and-go game with him; they think it a little bit the same way.
asserted
they → play → it
Historically, when Patrick has had a center that can create lanes with his speed, it has helped him.
asserted
it → have → him
Frankie, with his speed through the middle, will open up some different passing lanes, as well.”
asserted
Frankie → open → lanes
Blackhawks captain Connor Bedard is expected to miss the start of the season as he continues his recovery from left shoulder surgery.
asserted
he → expect → surgery
He could play alongside Kane on the team’s top line when he returns.
uncertain
he → play → line
Kane has been getting to know all the team’s young players.
asserted
Kane → get → players
He likes Nazar’s competitiveness and he said Kantserov is very smooth.
asserted
Kantserov → like → competitiveness
“I thought, you know, as a line today, we got more and more chemistry as the day went on and things got better and better,” Kane said.
asserted
Kane → think → chemistry
The Aporia
