Preview Question Time: Is It Gonna Be Warm It Up Kane? Or Kane Wasn't Abel?

by SamFels on Sep 23, 2009 3:47 PM CDT Comment 33 comments

Well, you knew we had to address this at some point. And it's a big question coming into this season, because along with Hossa, there's only one other player on this team who can crack the top-10 in scoring. And that's our boy, 20-cent. So, what's in store for Kaner? A whole lot, but we'll get to that.

Let's look at last year. Until Dec. 30th, Patrick Kane was averaging a point per game, was in the Top-10 scoring, and generally lighting up the league. Then came the oh-so brave Dan Cleary, and a fucked-up ankle. An ankle he shouldn't have been playing on for at least a week, probably two, and Kane was never the same. However, his scoreless streak last year was matched by one his rookie year, so can it all be chalked up to health? Maybe, in that it could be the rigors of an NHL season is a lot to take for Buffalo Smurf. Thus the news of his bulking up this summer and being a little quicker is so encouraging. Now he can take contact better, and also avoid more of it.

But Kane is in for something he's never dealt with this season. It's one thing to be the face of a franchise, it's another that every time he goes into an opposing city, the media is going to ask him whether he used a right-cross or left-hook. Opposing fans are going to let him hear it from warmups on out. He'll also constantly be dealing with questions about his RFA status at the end of the year. None of this sounds enjoyable. As far as the abuse from opposing fans, Kane seems like the type who would relish it, and live to shove it down their throats. The increased media scrutiny? Remains to be seen.

For a lot of The Ba'taan Death March last season, Kane wasn't scoring. That's not coincidental. The Hawks require Kaner to be a point-per-game player. It also allows support players to be support players, without feeling the pressure of carrying the team. We heard last year that Kane had improved his shot, and yet we so rarely saw it. Still, he ended up with 25G, but if he'd unleash that shot more often, that would jump to 30-35. It would also free up his vision and passing ability on the power play. Right now, everyone knows that when he's on the half-boards, he's looking to dish. Just firing it net-ward occasionally would free up space, like a hitter starting to hit to the opposite field to get the inside fastballs he desires.

Frankly, with everything going into it, and his next contract riding on it, I expect Kane to explode and flirt with a 90+ point season. I also won't be shocked if he curls into a shell, which would probably still result in 70+ points. The difference could be a parade, or all of us shaving prematurely in late May.

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the other winger

I really think that Kaner’s production could depend on the other winger.

I understand that superstars should, at times, make plays regardless of who they’re skating with, but Kaner can really benefit from the ideal sniper being at his side.

The wingers that appear to be in the running for this line would be Hossa, Sharp, and Versteeg, but to me, Sharp needs to be the guy.

As has been said on this site before, a Hossa-Kane-Toews line is just too easy a matchup for opposing coaches. As deep as the Hawks are at forward, spreading the wealth, while optimizing scoring, seems to be more feasible than this line would indicate.

A Versteeg-Kane-Toews line is just too young. Versteeg’s decision making defiencies have been well documented. I think that Versteeg can evolve, but I would much rather see him evolve alongside Hossa and Bolland.

Last, but obviously not least, the Sharp-Kane-Toews line. Of Sharp’s career points, 56% are goals while thus far in his career Kane is more of an assist guy with his goal percentage being 32% (Hossa is a balanced 47%). This line just seems like a natural fit. As I have said before (due to the expanded / changing / evolving hawk fan base) we can call this the “OMG I have his jersey and he’s sooo cute” line.

Just talking about the lines is getting me jacked up for some indianhead, if it weren’t for Jay Cutler occupying a portion my interest, I’d be frothing at the mouth.

"If you're scared, go buy a dog" - Stacey King

by hackerar on Sep 23, 2009 2:09 PM CDT reply actions

NHL 10

In nhl 10 I set line 1: Versteeg-toews-hossa… seems to work pretty good… I realize that hossa is injured right now but that wouldnt be a bad option to go to when he gets back. And then for second line I went with Sharpie-Madden-Kane… Sharp does work very well with kane across from him in the game… lol I realize that this is just a game but still something to think about. Except Kane continued to get Injured WAY TOO MUCH so I traded him right before the Trade deadline for JHC!

by SharpFTW10 on Sep 23, 2009 8:33 PM CDT up reply actions

20 Cent in NHL 10

have you noticed in playing the game that Kane fights and checks a lot?

by Donuts on Sep 24, 2009 12:01 PM CDT up reply actions

oh yea

I think the folks at EA just continued to do what they usually do with the cover athlete… Make him a lot better in all areas than he really is… Im interested to see how godly the folks at 2k made Ovie all because he graced the cover… God I remember one year when Iginla was on the cover of a game… he was unstoppable… They overall tho seem to get everyone pretty much right on… as far as skill and ratings… Burish is a little lower rated than i thought he should of been…. he also starts on Rockfords roster which doesnt make a lot of sence… especially sense he has a 1 way contract if im not mistaken.

by SharpFTW10 on Sep 24, 2009 11:28 PM CDT up reply actions

I still think

Toews will break the 90pts plateau before Kane.

by runningquicklynowhere on Sep 23, 2009 2:39 PM CDT reply actions

Kane

He is a stupid little very little doll playing little punk.The Hawks won’t do anything butt suck ass untill they put this little piece off shit in a cab and send him to Neverland..

by K O on Sep 23, 2009 3:23 PM CDT reply actions

Thanks!

You’ve made a lot of great comments since joining the site! Keep up the good work.

by dizzydee on Sep 23, 2009 3:25 PM CDT up reply actions

Thanks for dropping in, dropout.

"Call Detroit, tell dem... BULLSHIT!"

by Hungryhawk on Sep 23, 2009 7:04 PM CDT up reply actions

Oops, wrong "reply"

…but you know who I meant.

"Call Detroit, tell dem... BULLSHIT!"

by Hungryhawk on Sep 23, 2009 7:05 PM CDT up reply actions

He makes more money than you,

sleeps with more women than you (then again, [# women Kane’s laid] – [# of women you’ve laid] = [# of women Kane’s laid]), and lives an all-around supremely better life.

Now go wander around the Dollar General for a while. See if they have a deal on two-ply.

Got more soul than a sock with a hole.

by chrome on Sep 23, 2009 3:26 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

"butt suck ass"...

is my new favorite expression…

Using the word “little” 4 times in two sentences has to be close to a record though..

Second City Hockey

by Matthew Dirt on Sep 23, 2009 3:33 PM CDT up reply actions 2 recs

The Chicago Blackhawks - Sucking Butt Ass since 2007

Got more soul than a sock with a hole.

by chrome on Sep 23, 2009 3:37 PM CDT up reply actions

it must really give the SCH guys' existence meaning.......

when you craft a several hundred word post in order to provoke thought and/or an intelligent or funny comment and instead you get “stupid little very little doll playing little punk”

I would even argue that 3 “little(s)” in 8 words is way more awe inspiring than 4 in two sentences………….what an assclown.

"If you're scared, go buy a dog" - Stacey King

by hackerar on Sep 23, 2009 3:52 PM CDT up reply actions

We try not to think of the meaning of our existence...

I cry enough thank you.

www.secondcityhockey.com

by SamFels on Sep 23, 2009 4:28 PM CDT up reply actions

I would try to come up with something creative

in response to the brilliant troll who swung by with such poetic, and grammatically proper, vocabulary…but you gentlemen have said it all. Bravo to all the responses.

"What the hell, let's review it." - Dale Tallon
"They are!" - Pat Foley
"What a farce." - Dale Tallon

by HawkVision on Sep 24, 2009 12:36 PM CDT up reply actions

Usually

I have a reply to those who come on here with the full intention of ripping into the Blackhawks, but right now I can’t stop laughing at this post…had to read about 3 times to get what he was saying, I mean

stupid little very little doll playing little punk

and

butt suck ass

, and the best has to be

piece off shit in a cab and send him to Neverland..

Piece off shit? LMAO! I just don’t know how to tackle that one. (Still laughing)

It's never about the eventual destination, but rather the long journey and its challenging obstacles that are presented and what it takes to overcome them, that makes the taste of success all the more worthwhile!!!

by hawks61 on Sep 23, 2009 6:41 PM CDT up reply actions

Troll doesn't seem to know

20-cent bulked up this year.

Damn, trolls are fun to play with!

If I can't be a good example, I'll just be a horrible warning

by Trixietrx on Sep 23, 2009 11:46 PM CDT up reply actions

This is what fetal alcohol syndrome looks like on the Internet.

Occam's Razor keeps the cutting clean.

by russellguldin on Sep 24, 2009 6:41 AM CDT up reply actions 3 recs

This is F'n Hilarious

Milk went everywhere reading this one hahahahaha

by Roos-34 on Sep 24, 2009 7:50 AM CDT up reply actions

For the record, I'm all in on Kane this year.

35 G 51 A

Lil punk ass lil bitch be explOsive!!

Got more soul than a sock with a hole.

by chrome on Sep 23, 2009 3:55 PM CDT reply actions

Ticket question

Hey, I’m going to be up in Chicago from Charleston, SC. Big Thrashers fan. Hoping to see the game this Friday vs. Minnesota. Anyone have any advice about getting cheap tix? What kind of attendance would you expect for a Friday preseason game? What are the laws like up there for scalping? Thanks!

by fatschoonerrat on Sep 23, 2009 4:37 PM CDT reply actions

Try stubhub.com or ticketsnow.com. There will normally be dicey people surrounding the UC trying to sell you tickets. Purchase at your own risk.

But make sure you buy a Committed Indian from Sam outside of Gate 3 on the Madison St. side

www.secondcityhockey.com

It's a bird, it's a plane, it's a goddamn shame.

by McClure on Sep 23, 2009 4:43 PM CDT up reply actions

Thanks for the advice. Any recommendations for a watering hole near the UC?

by fatschoonerrat on Sep 23, 2009 4:57 PM CDT up reply actions

2 things

I was going to offer you my tickets for friday at a reasonable price, but the prices on stubhub are ridiculously low and I’d rather go to the game than sell my tickets for 5 bucks a pop. Looks like stubhub is the way to go.

Before the game, I try and hit up the billy goat tavern on ashland and madison for a burger and a brew.

After the game, there are quite a few bars on madison that you could check out, if you just walk a few blocks west. The West End (madison and Ada) is a pretty common post game hang out, (sometimes too common) and I’ve also been to Union Park, which is at Racine and Jackson.

Hope this helps

"If you're scared, go buy a dog" - Stacey King

by hackerar on Sep 23, 2009 5:11 PM CDT up reply actions

East...you mean east...

…if you walk a few blocks west, you might see bars but they probably won’t have a ton of Hawks fans there.

by GenPabloSecobar on Sep 23, 2009 10:19 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

Bars...on windows!

Wakka wakka!

Occam's Razor keeps the cutting clean.

by russellguldin on Sep 24, 2009 6:42 AM CDT up reply actions

yep east

The whole, walk east to the West End thing gets me sometimes. Hopefully fatschoonerrat read your comment, west = bad.

"If you're scared, go buy a dog" - Stacey King

by hackerar on Sep 24, 2009 8:50 AM CDT up reply actions

the third rail.

is a bar ive been frequenting since the playoffs. its about 1100 w madison. good pre-post game spot too.

"...can i have a glass of whiskey and a slice of bread?"

by west_fulton on Sep 24, 2009 9:56 AM CDT up reply actions

Thanks, y’all! Ended up getting row 5 tix at the goal line for $46 each (including StubHub’s vicious fees — $22 for the order, the bastards). I know it’s preseason, but it still seems like a good deal. Thanks again.

by fatschoonerrat on Sep 23, 2009 6:25 PM CDT reply actions

The Diary of Kane (so tell me how it should be?)

When it comes to Patrick Kane nobody can doubt the talent that he has, but can doubt his commitment to play up to his ability. In his first 2 seasons Kane has shown us at times why he is considered among the NHL’s top young playmakers, yet at times has shown us why he should be the odd-man out when the Big 3’s contracts are up for renewal at season’s end.

His play can be frustrating, for instance his overall play in the Wings series and various stages throughout the season. His defensive play so far has been nothing short than abysmal with a combined -12 rating in his first two seasons. On the other hand his play can be exhilirating, for example the Vancouver series especially in Game 6 where he recorded the Hat-trick sending the Hawks off to the Conference Finals. It really was a special and rewarding moment for all Hawks fans who’ve had to endure the last 10 disasterous seasons. At the beginning of last season Kane looked like he a had a shot at the scoring title, albeit minimal, but still a shot with an over a point-per-game pace at the time. Sure, Cleary’s hit derailed it somewhat but that shouldn’t have pre-empted what was to follow for Kane should have expected more out of himself.

And that’s why I think Kane will have a monster of a year for I truly think he has finally got it mentally which in the end is the most important. He sounds much more mature, and has added the physical dimensions to it by actually taking his off-season training seriously. Will this lead to Kane being infused every game? If it does then he has a shot at a 100-point season for he does have that type of ability for not too many players in the NHL can do what Kane can do.
The ability is there, it’s whether or not he brings it is the biggest question. Will it be a 90-100 + point season with a + rating?, Or will be like the last 2 years a 70+ point season with a – rating? I’m betting on the former.

by hawks61 on Sep 23, 2009 7:15 PM CDT reply actions