Black Hawk
FanSided

Patrick Kane: The Stick-Handling Wizard

By Mario Tirabassi|
Apr 25, 2016; St. Louis, MO, USA; Chicago Blackhawks right wing Patrick Kane (88) controls the puck in the game against the St. Louis Blues during the first period in game seven of the first round of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scottrade Center. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 25, 2016; St. Louis, MO, USA; Chicago Blackhawks right wing Patrick Kane (88) controls the puck in the game against the St. Louis Blues during the first period in game seven of the first round of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scottrade Center. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

Stick-Handling Is Patrick Kane’s World And We Just Live In It

If you haven’t seen it yet, Chicago Blackhawks’ very own Patrick Kane shows off his skills with the newest edition of Bauer’s Vapor 1X hockey stick in a promotional video highlighting Kane in the ‘Stick-Handlers Playground.’

With street cones, tractor tires, and other training aides, the ‘Playground’ seems to give Kane no difficulties when he navigates the puck through the obstacles. It’s crazy to think that someone can turn a hockey stick into a puck magnet and not just a piece of wood (carbon-fiber composite material, whatever.).

Is anyone surprised? Remember two years ago, Bauer released their ‘Agent 88’ promotional video featuring Kane with the Bauer Vapor APX2 hockey stick.

Kane showed off not only his incredible stick-handling skills controlling the puck through a sea of stationary hockey pucks, but also his ability to control his body as he navigated through the pucks without hitting a single one.

Check it out: Three Veteran Blackhawks Who Need To Step Up Next Year

This video prompted hockey players of all ages across the world to test their skills in their own Kane themed stick-handling drills. But the best one came from Kane’s then Blackhawks teammate Brandon Bollig as he tried his hand at the same drills in a spoof piece done by Blackhawks TV on YouTube.

It’s incredible to see Kane’s skills highlighted from afar, but it was last Spring’s GoPro video that really gave fans an idea of just what it felt and looked like to be in Kane’s skates as he demonstrated his stick-handling skills.

Kane is coming off of his career best season after tallying a league-leading 106 points (46 Goals, 60 Assists), being named to his fourth All-Star Game, and winning the Art Ross Trophy, Hart Memorial Trophy, and Ted Lindsay Award.

More from Editorials

While the Blackhawks came up very short of repeating as Stanley Cup Champions, the future for the organization and for Kane looks bright. After a roller-coaster of an off-season last Summer for Kane, he has focused on training and making the most of his extra time off this year by staying in the Chicago area, rather than go to his home in Buffalo.

The team will again rely on a heavy amount of offensive production from Kane and his line-mate Artemi Panarin, and the duo has the Blackhawks coming into the 2016-17 season tied with the reigning Champion Pittsburgh Penguins for the best odds to win the Stanley Cup at 9/1.

Hopefully the Blackhawks can navigate their way through the 2016-17 season as smoothly as Kane handles his way through any and every stick-handling drill thrown at him.

More from Blackhawk Up

Home/Editorials

Schedule