Chicago Blackhawks star winger Patrick Kane isn’t ruling out playing for the United States men’s hockey team in May at the 2018 World Championship, reports Craig Custance of The Athletic.
Kane hasn’t played in the tournament since 2008, when Team USA took sixth. That was also the last year Chicago did not make the Stanley Cup playoffs, which they’re on the verge of doing so this year. After a four-game first-round exit in 2017, Kane “gave it serious consideration” but decided against playing in the tournament.
The 29-year-old Kane previously played for Team USA at the 2010 and 2014 Winter Olympics and the 2016 World Cup of Hockey. The Buffalo, New York native has six goals and 15 assists in 22 games for Team USA.
Kane leads Chicago in assists (44), points (69) and points on the power play (20) in 73 games this season. His 25 goals are tied for the team lead with rookie forward Alex DeBrincat.
Custance adds that Kane may not be the only Blackhawks player willing to suit up for Team USA after the season with the likes of forwards DeBrincat, Vinnie Hinostroza, Brandon Saad and Nick Schmaltz and defenseman Connor Murphy also listed.
Team USA has historically struggled at the tournament, winning it only twice in 1933 and 1960. They have won bronze twice this decade in 2013 and 2015. The 2018 tournament is from May 4-20 in Copenhagen and Herning, Denmark.
Update: Chicago Sun-Times’ reporter Mark Lazerus asked Kane about the possibility before Saturday’s game against the New York Islanders:
Patrick Kane hasn’t decided yet if he’s going to play at the World Championships in Copenhagen in May. Said he’ll give it some thought after the season ends, but it’s “definitely an option.”
“After I didn’t go last year, I was thinking that maybe I should have went.”
— Mark Lazerus (@MarkLazerus) March 24, 2018
More quotes from Kane are available in Lazerus’ article right here.