Patrick Kane won’t be playing for the United States men’s national team this year.
The Chicago Blackhawks forward informed USA Hockey he will not play for Team USA at the 2017 World Championship, which runs from May 5 to 21 in Cologne, Germany and Paris, France. Kane reportedly mulled over the decision last weekend and “gave it serious consideration,” reports ESPN’s Craig Custance.
Kane, 28, hasn’t played at the tournament since 2008. He previously played for Team USA at the 2010 and 2014 Winter Olympics and the 2016 World Cup of Hockey. The Buffalo, N.Y. native has six goals and 15 assists in 22 games for Team USA.
Kane scored 34 goals and 89 points this season for Chicago. His season ended in disappointed after only scoring a goal and an assist with 5.75 shots on goal per game as Nashville swept Chicago in four games.
Kane isn’t the only Hawk to turn down playing in the tournament. Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook and Jonathan Toews (Canada); Artem Anisimov (Russia); Marian Hossa and Richard Panik (Slovakia); and Niklas Hjalmarsson (Sweden) have all declined to play for their respective countries.
Sweden confirmed Monday that forward Marcus Kruger will play at Worlds while winger Artemi Panarin will reportedly suit up for Russia.