Patrick Kane Aiming To Return for Chicago Blackhawks' Regular-Season Opener

Patrick Kane of the Chicago Blackhawks suffered a scaphoid fracture in his left wrist on July 19.

Kane told NHL.com's Adam Kimelman that the injury occurred in the second-to-last game of the regular season and that it had been bothering him for some time, but nothing showed up during the initial doctor's visit. The next visit to figure out why his wrist was still bothering him revealed the injury.

There was no blood flow to the area where the fracture occurred, so Patrick required surgery to have it repaired.

Kane was initially given a six-to-eight-week recovery period, meaning that he would be ready by the start of training camp on September 17, but his target date is now the regular season opener on October 7.

Kane told The Fan 590 in Toronto (h/t NHL.com):

"

I still have a little cast on, so it's probably a little bit longer. I'm not really going to rush anything; we still have a lot of time. My goal is to be ready for the opening regular-season game. Obviously, you'd like to be back in training camp, but more importantly the date is Oct. 7 for our first regular-season game. That's kind of the date I'm working for. There's really no rush because things are going pretty well right now.

"

When he was examined on Monday, there was nothing but positive signs.

He has been skating on his own, without full equipment on, but he has been unable to complete a rigorous workout or skate with any of the Sabres due to his injury. 

I, for one, cannot wait until Kane is completely healthy again.