Chicago Blackhawks: How Patrick Kane Has Reinvented His Game

This is not the same player.  It's not the same player who scored the Cup-winning goal in 2010 and not the same player who managed a point per game last season.

Patrick Kane is controlling the game like he never has before.

Before camp, Kaner mentioned that he wanted to be a more complete player, and "take his game to the next level." That other level he talked about has arrived in the form of a reinvented center iceman, who is excelling at both ends.

When Hawks coach Joel Quenneville first mentioned the idea of Patrick Kane playing in the middle of the ice, most fans, reporters and perhaps teammates winced a little. Was the team that desperate? Was coach Q out of his mind?

The center position is one of enormous responsibility and one where you can excel offensively, but you have to be the most important player in your own end of the ice.  

What we knew of Patrick Kane as a player before this was that he was not designed for this role. Without doubt, Kane is a prolific offensive talent. When in the opposing zone, he is electric, can create opportunities and has a blinding wrist shot.

Defensively, this is a player we were used to seeing hovering around the defensive blue line, waiting for an opportunity to jump up the ice for another crack at the net. As a result, he was consistently out of position and a liability defensively.    

This is no longer the case. While many were excited about his fast start in the first three games, it was Saturday night's game against the Boston Bruins that was alarming. Despite the fact that Tim Thomas stole a shootout win for the Bruins, No. 88 in red was easily the best player on the ice.  

Without Marian Hossa, Kane was in the middle with Dan Carcillo and Viktor Stalberg. Who would have predicted that combo a month ago?  It would have sounded like a bad horror movie. There is no way Kane could have handled this assignment a year ago.  

On Saturday, Kane was around the puck every second he was on the ice. He buried a shot from the slot to give the Hawks a 2-1 lead in the second period. He was supporting the puck in his own end, even winning battles in the corners. On the attack he was brilliant, scoring the go-ahead goal in the second period and creating chances all night long. He is understanding the movement of the position through the neutral zone and is not getting sucked down low when on the forecheck.  

For a player as slippery as Kane to be that effective in all areas of the ice is promising to say the least. But it's more than that. This may be the best conditioned Patrick Kane we have seen mentally and physically.

Before his wrist surgery kept his offseason routine limited, Kane was hitting the gym hard. Last season ended earlier than he would have liked, but that was to his benefit. He is not a teenager anymore and we are seeing him grow into his body to be stronger than ever.

Mentally, perhaps Kane was tired of hearing the party jokes and being perceived as a loose cannon off the ice. At 22, if Kane wants to have a durable career, the kid in him will have to take a back seat to the man he needs to become. As part of the core, he will need to lead and be responsible as a professional.  

We are seeing this now.

It is a mere four games in, but it's clear. He's not a kid, he is now a young man and he is maturing before our eyes. He seems more in control of his talent and is making efforts to become a complete hockey player.

Whatever it is, Patrick Kane has easily been the Hawks' best player so far this season, and it is remarkable how he has adapted to his new role as a center. If Kane continues to thrive in this way, he will truly be a special player.

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