Top 10–#3 Patrick Kane
By Keith Schultz
Mar 9, 2012; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Blackhawks right wing Patrick Kane (88) during the second period against the New York Rangers at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Rob Grabowski-US PRESSWIRE
The third member of the 2010 Stanley Cup team to make my top 10 favorite Chicago Blackhawks of all-time is Patrick Kane. The main reason Patrick Kane is at #3 in my list is for the Stanley Cup Game #6 winner, the entire NHL.com highlight package of game #6 in Philadelphia is here. Kane scored the best, most exciting, never seen, an most important goal in my lifetime as a Chicago Blackhawk in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup finals! The Hawks won their first Stanley Cup since 1961 when, after Kane making a basketball/football head fake against the boards was able to score from a terrible angle to end the longest running drought in the NHL. There was Kane, with announcers and fans alike unsure if there was a goal or lost puck, jumping into Antti Niemi’s arms on the other end of the rink. As a lifelong fan of all Chicago teams I wanted to go crazy but couldn’t until video replay confirmed the goal!
Kane’s goal stood and the Cup was won and the rest is history right? Kane has scored some really important goals late in games. He scored with seconds left to tie the game against the Nashville Predators in the first round of the 2010 playoffs which turned the tide of the series towards the Hawks. Kane also scored the tying goal in the final minutes for Team USA to tie Canada in the gold medal game. Of course the Stanley Cup winner will always be his biggest goal on his young but very good resume.
Kane in 399 games played in five seasons has 126 goals and 243 assists. Kane was the rookie of the year in 2008 scoring 21 goals and 51 assists to start the rebirth of the Blackhawks from terrible to championship caliber teams. Kane has ran into off the ice situations during the off seasons by doing stuff that most people wish they were doing which makes the critique so hypocritical. The old sports writers that complain about Kane’s off season antics sound more jealous than anything else. They probably all would want to be partying with college girls on campus being only 23 years old with good looks, money, a Stanley Cup championship, NHL rookie of the year, and a silver medal.
Kane also is a highlight machine especially in shoot outs. Last season he scored two of the best shoot out goals you will ever see that totally embarrassed the goalie in both instances. Kane can be as frustrating as he is exciting making poor turnovers at the blue line that create odd man rushes for the opponnent. You can usually overlook the blemishes because he could possibly be the most creative offensive player that has ever worn a Blackhawks jersey.
Kane seemed to be off his game last season but still emerged at the end with 23 goals. It does seem like the next season that Kane plays he needs to step it up a notch to become a consistent 30 goal scorer for the next decade. Time will tell if he’s a superstar or a just a good player that makes highlight goals and late game heroics. Not that having that as your calling card is a bad thing. Either way with the weight of his Stanley Cup winner, Kane is #3 on my list of All-Time favorite Blackhawks.
My Top 10 Favorite Blackhawks of All-Time Countdown so far:
10. Murray Bannerman
9. Pat Foley
8. Antti Niemi
7. Doug Wilson
5. Denis Savard
4. Ed Olczyk
3. Patrick Kane
LET’S GO HAWKS!!!