Excerpts from the old Chicago Tribune Hawks blog (hockey)
Posting this here because it's easier on the eyes and my formatting soul than it would be on tumblr. Basically this is just a collection of media (specifically: beat reporter Chris Kuc) quotes about Kane and Toews circa 2007-2009 from this old blog; I went through the entries and copied any bits I found interesting about Kane, Toews or the team.
Hockey people - feel free to c/p/report at will. (Non hockey people, I assume you've already moved on to the next post :-))
Sept 14 2007:
There was a funny moment at the news conference showcasing the Blackhawks new uniforms. Martin Havlat, Brent Seabrook, Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews were modeling and considering the event was held on the terrace of a popular Chicago restaurant, skates were not an option. The choice of footwear among the players was varied: Seabrook and Toews came out in full uniform but wore sandals. Havlat wore white gym shoes. Kane's choice? Crocs. Blue.
(Note:
starafar has brilliantly found photos and video of the occasion:
as well as this and this, and this is the video. I have many feelings about it, namely: this is a video of that time they bought new slaves, and this is the first time they're putting them on display, garbed in finery. And Kaner and Tazer are just standing there with like, no idea what to do, they have literally been brought there to be living mannequins without having played a single NHL game yet. Welcome to your new lives.)
Sept 28th 2007:
Apparently, being touted as the cornerstones of the franchise doesn't mean much when they hand out locker assignments at the Edge. Patrick Kane, 2007's No. 1 overall draft pick, Jonathan Toews, the team's top pick in '06, are relegated to chairs in the middle of the room. While other players have their own stalls with benches and hooks for their clothes and equipment, Kane and Toews make due with a folding chair and their equipment on the floor.
"A lot of guys are saying to the equipment managers, 'First overall doesn't get a spot yet?' But it's my first season, I haven't earned it yet. Hopefully regular-season time I can get one of these stalls."
Toews, recovering from a broken finger, doesn't mind the seating situation. "The least experienced guys go in the middle," Toews said. "I'm happy right here -- I have a lot of room. No worries."
November 1st 2007:
You see and hear things when part of your job is spent inside NHL lockerrooms. A lot of it is chaos with the sound of tape being ripped from uniforms, players kidding each other, throwing things at each other, equipment strewn around the room and there's always a blaring TV or radio. Always.
But the sight of 18-year-old Patrick Kane walking through the vistors lockerroom in Dallas on Wednesday morning wearing only a pair of bright, lime-green boxer shorts was something else. His teammates hooted and hollered at the fashion statement and all he could do was smile.
"I guess I'm just a colorful guy," Kane said when asked about his attire by a Dallas reporter. Yes, a Dallas reporter, not me. "These are just weird designs on them. I have some with shamrocks. The guys are always giving me a hard time about them."
Oh, to be young and in the top 10 in scoring in the NHL.
*
Kane and fellow rookie Jonathan Toews have been getting a lot of attention from around the league. Every city the Blackhawks visit the local media want a word with them and head coach Denis Savard. The three recently did a nation-wide teleconference with NHL writers and Savard called Kane the Hawks' best player.
With five goals and 11 assists in his first 12 career games, Kane has lived up to--and beyond--expectations as the NHL's top overall selection in the 2007 draft. Toews has been just about as good, registering a point in each of the 10 NHL games in which he's played.
Still, Savard said the Hawks are more than just the "Kane and Toews Show."
"This is a team," Savard said. "It's not just two players. Obviously, they've played well and we're glad to see that but it's a team game. You can't win with just two players."
November 19th 2007:
Patrick Kane was walking around the locker room following practice with shaving cream in his hair. The gift was from a teammate on the rookie's 19th birthday.
"I think that was Willy (Jason Williams) who got me with a towel of shaving cream in the face," said Kane, who said he would probably celebrate by having dinner with some of his teammates. "I thought it was whipped cream or like a pie and I started tasting it and it wasn't good. It's a fun day being at the rink with the guys."
December 1st 2007:
Hawks rookie Patrick Kane got a kick out of playing against the Coyotes who are coached by Wayne Gretzky. Someone asked Kane whom he'd take if a shootout came down to Gretzky and Kane's own coach, Denis Savard.
"That's a tough one," Kane said. " 'Savvy' had some good moves. I don't want to go against my guy. I'll have to pick 'Savvy' on that one."
(Note: yeah this one was less fascinating except in how it made me realize they actually played against Gretzky as a coach which I had never realized.)
April 2nd 2008:
The Blackhawks appear to be a loose group despite being on the brink of playoff elimination. A lot of talk around the dressing room following Wednesday's morning skate in preparation for their game against the Red Wings at the United Center centered around Tuesday's hijinks involving rookie Jonathan Toews' truck.
After yesterday's practice in Bensenville, Adam Burish and James Wisniewski covered Toews' car in tape and shaving cream. There was some discussion today of whether Toews needs to get revenge this season or if it can carry over to next. The consensus is it's the latter.
April 24th 2008:
Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews entered the NHL at the same time, were roommates on the road and played on the same line. Now the 19-year-olds share something else as Wednesday the Blackhawks forwards were named finalists for the Calder Trophy, given to the NHL's rookie of the year.
"We did so many things together on and off the ice," Toews said. "A lot of things we had to face as rookies and young players in the National hockey league we dealt with together. For us to be sitting here today and have the honor of being recognized and having a chance to win this award is special for us. A lot of this we owe to our teammates and coaches but in a way we helped each other get here too. It's been much more enjoyable having a guy like Patrick around all the time. So for us it's an honor to be in this boat together and to represent our team like this."
*
"I think we are a little biased on this," Toews said. "If I couldn't vote for myself, I'd have to go ahead and say Patrick just because I've seen him first-hand all year and he's proved to me what kind of player and person he is."
Said Kane: "It would be tough not to vote for Jonathan. I think if he had a couple more games under his belt and not get injured there might be a different story and we would probably know who would win this award. It's pretty much an award for the Blackhawks either way. If one of us wins, it's just another thing to kind of top off the season and realize that the buzz is back with the Blackhawks. That's all that really matters."
September 17 2008:
Kane has been informally working out with teammates at The Edge in Bensenville before the start of training camp, which opens with media day Friday, and is noticably bigger in his arms and chest and reports he weighs 175 pounds, up from the 163 he was at the beginning of last season.
"I put on some muscle," Kane said. "I was a little chubby at some point in the summer [but] I feel in great shape now. I think 175 is perfect. I can tell my arms are bigger, my chest is bigger, my traps, and my legs [are bigger]."
Kane credits new strength and conditioning coach Paul Goodman for designing workouts that have made the 19-year-old bigger and stronger.
October 17 2008:
Blackhawks winger Patrick Kane let his emotions flow Friday while talking about the dismissal of head coach Denis Savard.
Savard was Kane's only coach in the NHL and the pair developed a bond after the then-18 year old made the team in training camp and went on to become the league's rookie of the year.
Sitting in front of his locker following Friday's practice at the Edge in Bensenville, Kane couldn't hold back tears in describing the bond the two had formed. (Listen to the audio.)
"He was my first coach in the league," Kane, 19, said. "I think he was just more than anything a great friend. Just the situations he brought us in. He played us (Kane and Jonathan Toews) a lot last year, upcoming rookies, 18 and 19 years old. It’s difficult to see him go but hopefully it’s for the better."
Kane said he sent a text message to Savard but hadn't spoken to him yet but will soon.
"I’ll admit I shed a few tears [Thursday] night just thinking about it," Kane said. "There's nothing [Savard] really could have done, I don’t think. You definitely feel responsible for the situation. He took the fall for us and it’s tough on us.
"He tried to show me things that maybe he wasn't very good on in his career that he knew I needed improvement on. It was one of those things where it was kind of definitely a love replationship. He just wanted to get the best out of me and I respected him obviously as a player."
New head coach Joel Quenneville knows part of his job will be to win over players, especially Kane, since Savard was so close to them.
"I know [Kane's] a young kid and he’s got a lot to learn on the game but it’s nice he did have a special relationship there and has those feelings toward Savvy," Quenneville said. "I think that’s healthy. I think we grow each and every day. With young kids there's a process to become better each and every day. With Kaner, it’s a situation where we’re aware of everything we need to know and we’ll help him along here and try to get the best out of him."
(note: NO SERIOUSLY. LISTEN TO THE AUDIO CLIP. THE WHOLE THING. IF YOU ARE A PERSON WHO CARES ABOUT PATRICK KANE CRYING. WHICH I ASSUME SOME OF US ARE.)
November 11 2008:
Hawks captain Jonathan Toews didn't give a glowing review of his first NHL fight. Toews and the Coyotes' Martin Hanzal dropped the gloves in the opening minute of Tuesday night's third period. Not too many punches were thrown or landed as the two wrestled near center ice.
"I was sitting in the [penalty] box and I was asking the guy if they actually gave me five minutes," Toews said. "I didn't even know if they called that a fight. I couldn't get my left glove off so I was more worried about just making sure he wasn't throwing at me. Next time I'm in that situation I'll be a little bit more confident on how to protect myself and do the right things.
"Sometimes things like that happen and you can't back down from it. You just have to step up and protect yourself and do what you have to do. "
Many NHL fights help change the momentum of games and fire up teammates, but Toews said his fight didn't do much for the flow of the game.
"It wasn't like I was throwing haymakers and the guys were getting all pumped on the bench," the center said. "Sometimes it's necessary. At that point in the game I didn't want to spend five minutes in the penalty box. I got out of it without getting hurt and that's the main thing."
December 4th 2008:
Veteran defenseman Brent Seabrook was in a particularly playful mood, joining reporters during interviews with Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane.
Seabrook, wielding a microphone, joined the Kane interview and asked a hard-hitting question.
Seabrook: "What kind of product do you put in your hair?
Kane: " 'L.A. Looks.' Don't you use it too?"
Seabrook: "Yeah, yeah, it's good stuff."
A reporter (okay, it was me): "Who uses more?"
Kane: "Seabs definitely uses more."
Seabrook: "Thicker hair."
December 18th 2008:
Coach Joel Quenneville mixed hard work with some fun time as the high-flying Hawks remain in good spirits brought on by their five-game winning streak.
The highlight of the practice had to be line rushes with an imaginary puck. Hawks players twirled, deked, stick-handled and put shots on goal in every imaginable way.
"That was pretty funny," winger Patrick Kane said. "It was funny, actually, when we were done and then you listen to Coach "Q" and you hear him yell "nice save" and there was no puck.
"That's what the game is all about. That's one of the things [Quenneville] is bringing to the table right now. Everyone's having fun. You watch our practice and guys celebrating after they score, they're smiling on the ice, laughing and joking but at the same time you're working hard."
Goaltender Cristobal Huet got into the spirit of things while making imaginary saves, flopping to the ice with each shot attempt and simulating glove saves. Defenseman James Wisniewski drew laughs when he stopped one rush and frowned as if a pass sent his way was errant.
"Geez, they made some nice plays," Quenneville said while laughing. "That's the best I've ever seen guys make plays without a doubt. The goalies made a couple of big saves as well. Don't discount some of the saves that were made."
May 12th 2009:
Anyone else have trouble falling asleep last night? The adrenaline pumping from one of the most exciting hockey games I've ever witnessed probably led to a few sleepless nights around the city.
Think Patrick Kane dozed right off? The second-year winger scored his first-ever NHL hat trick to help lead the Blackhawks to a remarkable 7-5 victory over the Vancouver Canucks in Game 6 of the Western Conference semifinals Monday night at the United Center.
Basking in the afterglow of the performance in the Hawks' dressing room, Kane revealed his Monday didn't get off on the right foot.
"I was late for all the meetings this morning," Kane said. "Almost missed the pregame skate too. So after the game guys are like, 'you don't have to come to a meeting again the rest of the year; just show up when you want.' It was a fluke thing where the day didn't start good, Then I saw a huge accident on my way home from practice. It was a crazy day. I took a longer nap than usual, but sometimes things just click. It was unbelievable to win tonight but more unbelievable to contribute too."
Why was Kane late?
"[I] had the alarm set for 8:30 [and] woke up at 9:47 when my phone rang with [team executive] Tony Ommen calling me, so I had to book it as fast as I could to the rink. Coaches didnt really say anything to me, but you could tell they were a little [angry]. I think it's one of those things that happens on a day like this. It was a fluky day, I had weird feelings but things worked out."
Things worked out so well Kane enjoyed the finest game of his career.
"I don't know what else would be up there," said Kane when asked if if was his best game. "A hat trick in the Stanley Cup [playoffs] in Game 6, an elimination game. You find another better game I had and we'll see if we can have a little debate.
"From the crowd to winning the game to scoring the hat trick, I think I just had chills down my spine.," Kane added. "After the third goal there, just going back to center ice and hugging [Brian] Campbell I had chills. I don't know what went on for the next five or six minutes. I don't know why [coach Joel Quenneville] threw me on the ice again but I was in another world."
May 26th 2009:
Meanwhile, winger Patrick Kane was still chuckling over an incident in Game 4 during which Wings center Johan Franzen ripped Kane's mouthguard out of his mouth and threw it to the ice while the two were jawing at each other following a stoppage of play behind the Wings net.
"I'm kind of whacking the goalie (Ty Conklin) and [Franzen] comes in and just takes the mouthpiece and throws it," said Kane, who often skates around the ice chewing on his mouthguard instead of having it in his mouth. "You never really think he was going to come up and grab your mouthpiece and throw it out. It was kind of surprising at first. The ref was right there so I was hoping he was going to call something, maybe a misconduct. I was kind of asking the ref a little bit for that.
"It's kind of surprising. It's never happened before."
Kane told me, "it's pretty funny, check it out on Youtube."
August 10th 2009: (this piece starts with a short summary of what we know so far regarding the cab driver incident, and then:)
Now, back to that memory I mentioned.
During Kane's rookie season in 2007, the then 18-year-old was with his Hawks teammates in Detroit for a game against the Red Wings. I was staying in the same hotel as the team and a few hours before game time jumped into a cab and asked the driver to take me to Joe Louis Arena. After hearing my destination, the driver told me he'd just had a Hawks player in the cab and mentioned what a great guy the player was and that he had given the driver $50 for a $10 cab ride.
He then showed me the autograph the player had given him and it read: "Show me the money! (signed) Patrick Kane"
Irony aside, this certainly doesn't absolve Kane of any wrong-doing in Sunday's incident, but in my mind should help put to rest the notion that the altercation was because Kane, who as a rookie wasn't yet making millions of dollars but still gave the driver in Detroit a $40 tip, was too cheap to pay Radecki or tip him or that Kane disrespects working men and women such as cab drivers.
Obviously, either Kane's attitude toward cab drivers has changed, or something else happened on that street in the wee hours in Buffalo and until Kane speaks publicly about it (he hasn't returned several messages I've left) we won't know his side of things.
August 17th 2008: I won't c/p the whole thing here, for for anyone who cares for posterity, more about the cab driver incident from that week.
comments on Dreamwidth.
Hockey people - feel free to c/p/report at will. (Non hockey people, I assume you've already moved on to the next post :-))
Sept 14 2007:
There was a funny moment at the news conference showcasing the Blackhawks new uniforms. Martin Havlat, Brent Seabrook, Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews were modeling and considering the event was held on the terrace of a popular Chicago restaurant, skates were not an option. The choice of footwear among the players was varied: Seabrook and Toews came out in full uniform but wore sandals. Havlat wore white gym shoes. Kane's choice? Crocs. Blue.
(Note:
starafar has brilliantly found photos and video of the occasion:
as well as this and this, and this is the video. I have many feelings about it, namely: this is a video of that time they bought new slaves, and this is the first time they're putting them on display, garbed in finery. And Kaner and Tazer are just standing there with like, no idea what to do, they have literally been brought there to be living mannequins without having played a single NHL game yet. Welcome to your new lives.)
Sept 28th 2007:
Apparently, being touted as the cornerstones of the franchise doesn't mean much when they hand out locker assignments at the Edge. Patrick Kane, 2007's No. 1 overall draft pick, Jonathan Toews, the team's top pick in '06, are relegated to chairs in the middle of the room. While other players have their own stalls with benches and hooks for their clothes and equipment, Kane and Toews make due with a folding chair and their equipment on the floor.
"A lot of guys are saying to the equipment managers, 'First overall doesn't get a spot yet?' But it's my first season, I haven't earned it yet. Hopefully regular-season time I can get one of these stalls."
Toews, recovering from a broken finger, doesn't mind the seating situation. "The least experienced guys go in the middle," Toews said. "I'm happy right here -- I have a lot of room. No worries."
November 1st 2007:
You see and hear things when part of your job is spent inside NHL lockerrooms. A lot of it is chaos with the sound of tape being ripped from uniforms, players kidding each other, throwing things at each other, equipment strewn around the room and there's always a blaring TV or radio. Always.
But the sight of 18-year-old Patrick Kane walking through the vistors lockerroom in Dallas on Wednesday morning wearing only a pair of bright, lime-green boxer shorts was something else. His teammates hooted and hollered at the fashion statement and all he could do was smile.
"I guess I'm just a colorful guy," Kane said when asked about his attire by a Dallas reporter. Yes, a Dallas reporter, not me. "These are just weird designs on them. I have some with shamrocks. The guys are always giving me a hard time about them."
Oh, to be young and in the top 10 in scoring in the NHL.
*
Kane and fellow rookie Jonathan Toews have been getting a lot of attention from around the league. Every city the Blackhawks visit the local media want a word with them and head coach Denis Savard. The three recently did a nation-wide teleconference with NHL writers and Savard called Kane the Hawks' best player.
With five goals and 11 assists in his first 12 career games, Kane has lived up to--and beyond--expectations as the NHL's top overall selection in the 2007 draft. Toews has been just about as good, registering a point in each of the 10 NHL games in which he's played.
Still, Savard said the Hawks are more than just the "Kane and Toews Show."
"This is a team," Savard said. "It's not just two players. Obviously, they've played well and we're glad to see that but it's a team game. You can't win with just two players."
November 19th 2007:
Patrick Kane was walking around the locker room following practice with shaving cream in his hair. The gift was from a teammate on the rookie's 19th birthday.
"I think that was Willy (Jason Williams) who got me with a towel of shaving cream in the face," said Kane, who said he would probably celebrate by having dinner with some of his teammates. "I thought it was whipped cream or like a pie and I started tasting it and it wasn't good. It's a fun day being at the rink with the guys."
December 1st 2007:
Hawks rookie Patrick Kane got a kick out of playing against the Coyotes who are coached by Wayne Gretzky. Someone asked Kane whom he'd take if a shootout came down to Gretzky and Kane's own coach, Denis Savard.
"That's a tough one," Kane said. " 'Savvy' had some good moves. I don't want to go against my guy. I'll have to pick 'Savvy' on that one."
(Note: yeah this one was less fascinating except in how it made me realize they actually played against Gretzky as a coach which I had never realized.)
April 2nd 2008:
The Blackhawks appear to be a loose group despite being on the brink of playoff elimination. A lot of talk around the dressing room following Wednesday's morning skate in preparation for their game against the Red Wings at the United Center centered around Tuesday's hijinks involving rookie Jonathan Toews' truck.
After yesterday's practice in Bensenville, Adam Burish and James Wisniewski covered Toews' car in tape and shaving cream. There was some discussion today of whether Toews needs to get revenge this season or if it can carry over to next. The consensus is it's the latter.
April 24th 2008:
Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews entered the NHL at the same time, were roommates on the road and played on the same line. Now the 19-year-olds share something else as Wednesday the Blackhawks forwards were named finalists for the Calder Trophy, given to the NHL's rookie of the year.
"We did so many things together on and off the ice," Toews said. "A lot of things we had to face as rookies and young players in the National hockey league we dealt with together. For us to be sitting here today and have the honor of being recognized and having a chance to win this award is special for us. A lot of this we owe to our teammates and coaches but in a way we helped each other get here too. It's been much more enjoyable having a guy like Patrick around all the time. So for us it's an honor to be in this boat together and to represent our team like this."
*
"I think we are a little biased on this," Toews said. "If I couldn't vote for myself, I'd have to go ahead and say Patrick just because I've seen him first-hand all year and he's proved to me what kind of player and person he is."
Said Kane: "It would be tough not to vote for Jonathan. I think if he had a couple more games under his belt and not get injured there might be a different story and we would probably know who would win this award. It's pretty much an award for the Blackhawks either way. If one of us wins, it's just another thing to kind of top off the season and realize that the buzz is back with the Blackhawks. That's all that really matters."
September 17 2008:
Kane has been informally working out with teammates at The Edge in Bensenville before the start of training camp, which opens with media day Friday, and is noticably bigger in his arms and chest and reports he weighs 175 pounds, up from the 163 he was at the beginning of last season.
"I put on some muscle," Kane said. "I was a little chubby at some point in the summer [but] I feel in great shape now. I think 175 is perfect. I can tell my arms are bigger, my chest is bigger, my traps, and my legs [are bigger]."
Kane credits new strength and conditioning coach Paul Goodman for designing workouts that have made the 19-year-old bigger and stronger.
October 17 2008:
Blackhawks winger Patrick Kane let his emotions flow Friday while talking about the dismissal of head coach Denis Savard.
Savard was Kane's only coach in the NHL and the pair developed a bond after the then-18 year old made the team in training camp and went on to become the league's rookie of the year.
Sitting in front of his locker following Friday's practice at the Edge in Bensenville, Kane couldn't hold back tears in describing the bond the two had formed. (Listen to the audio.)
"He was my first coach in the league," Kane, 19, said. "I think he was just more than anything a great friend. Just the situations he brought us in. He played us (Kane and Jonathan Toews) a lot last year, upcoming rookies, 18 and 19 years old. It’s difficult to see him go but hopefully it’s for the better."
Kane said he sent a text message to Savard but hadn't spoken to him yet but will soon.
"I’ll admit I shed a few tears [Thursday] night just thinking about it," Kane said. "There's nothing [Savard] really could have done, I don’t think. You definitely feel responsible for the situation. He took the fall for us and it’s tough on us.
"He tried to show me things that maybe he wasn't very good on in his career that he knew I needed improvement on. It was one of those things where it was kind of definitely a love replationship. He just wanted to get the best out of me and I respected him obviously as a player."
New head coach Joel Quenneville knows part of his job will be to win over players, especially Kane, since Savard was so close to them.
"I know [Kane's] a young kid and he’s got a lot to learn on the game but it’s nice he did have a special relationship there and has those feelings toward Savvy," Quenneville said. "I think that’s healthy. I think we grow each and every day. With young kids there's a process to become better each and every day. With Kaner, it’s a situation where we’re aware of everything we need to know and we’ll help him along here and try to get the best out of him."
(note: NO SERIOUSLY. LISTEN TO THE AUDIO CLIP. THE WHOLE THING. IF YOU ARE A PERSON WHO CARES ABOUT PATRICK KANE CRYING. WHICH I ASSUME SOME OF US ARE.)
November 11 2008:
Hawks captain Jonathan Toews didn't give a glowing review of his first NHL fight. Toews and the Coyotes' Martin Hanzal dropped the gloves in the opening minute of Tuesday night's third period. Not too many punches were thrown or landed as the two wrestled near center ice.
"I was sitting in the [penalty] box and I was asking the guy if they actually gave me five minutes," Toews said. "I didn't even know if they called that a fight. I couldn't get my left glove off so I was more worried about just making sure he wasn't throwing at me. Next time I'm in that situation I'll be a little bit more confident on how to protect myself and do the right things.
"Sometimes things like that happen and you can't back down from it. You just have to step up and protect yourself and do what you have to do. "
Many NHL fights help change the momentum of games and fire up teammates, but Toews said his fight didn't do much for the flow of the game.
"It wasn't like I was throwing haymakers and the guys were getting all pumped on the bench," the center said. "Sometimes it's necessary. At that point in the game I didn't want to spend five minutes in the penalty box. I got out of it without getting hurt and that's the main thing."
December 4th 2008:
Veteran defenseman Brent Seabrook was in a particularly playful mood, joining reporters during interviews with Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane.
Seabrook, wielding a microphone, joined the Kane interview and asked a hard-hitting question.
Seabrook: "What kind of product do you put in your hair?
Kane: " 'L.A. Looks.' Don't you use it too?"
Seabrook: "Yeah, yeah, it's good stuff."
A reporter (okay, it was me): "Who uses more?"
Kane: "Seabs definitely uses more."
Seabrook: "Thicker hair."
December 18th 2008:
Coach Joel Quenneville mixed hard work with some fun time as the high-flying Hawks remain in good spirits brought on by their five-game winning streak.
The highlight of the practice had to be line rushes with an imaginary puck. Hawks players twirled, deked, stick-handled and put shots on goal in every imaginable way.
"That was pretty funny," winger Patrick Kane said. "It was funny, actually, when we were done and then you listen to Coach "Q" and you hear him yell "nice save" and there was no puck.
"That's what the game is all about. That's one of the things [Quenneville] is bringing to the table right now. Everyone's having fun. You watch our practice and guys celebrating after they score, they're smiling on the ice, laughing and joking but at the same time you're working hard."
Goaltender Cristobal Huet got into the spirit of things while making imaginary saves, flopping to the ice with each shot attempt and simulating glove saves. Defenseman James Wisniewski drew laughs when he stopped one rush and frowned as if a pass sent his way was errant.
"Geez, they made some nice plays," Quenneville said while laughing. "That's the best I've ever seen guys make plays without a doubt. The goalies made a couple of big saves as well. Don't discount some of the saves that were made."
May 12th 2009:
Anyone else have trouble falling asleep last night? The adrenaline pumping from one of the most exciting hockey games I've ever witnessed probably led to a few sleepless nights around the city.
Think Patrick Kane dozed right off? The second-year winger scored his first-ever NHL hat trick to help lead the Blackhawks to a remarkable 7-5 victory over the Vancouver Canucks in Game 6 of the Western Conference semifinals Monday night at the United Center.
Basking in the afterglow of the performance in the Hawks' dressing room, Kane revealed his Monday didn't get off on the right foot.
"I was late for all the meetings this morning," Kane said. "Almost missed the pregame skate too. So after the game guys are like, 'you don't have to come to a meeting again the rest of the year; just show up when you want.' It was a fluke thing where the day didn't start good, Then I saw a huge accident on my way home from practice. It was a crazy day. I took a longer nap than usual, but sometimes things just click. It was unbelievable to win tonight but more unbelievable to contribute too."
Why was Kane late?
"[I] had the alarm set for 8:30 [and] woke up at 9:47 when my phone rang with [team executive] Tony Ommen calling me, so I had to book it as fast as I could to the rink. Coaches didnt really say anything to me, but you could tell they were a little [angry]. I think it's one of those things that happens on a day like this. It was a fluky day, I had weird feelings but things worked out."
Things worked out so well Kane enjoyed the finest game of his career.
"I don't know what else would be up there," said Kane when asked if if was his best game. "A hat trick in the Stanley Cup [playoffs] in Game 6, an elimination game. You find another better game I had and we'll see if we can have a little debate.
"From the crowd to winning the game to scoring the hat trick, I think I just had chills down my spine.," Kane added. "After the third goal there, just going back to center ice and hugging [Brian] Campbell I had chills. I don't know what went on for the next five or six minutes. I don't know why [coach Joel Quenneville] threw me on the ice again but I was in another world."
May 26th 2009:
Meanwhile, winger Patrick Kane was still chuckling over an incident in Game 4 during which Wings center Johan Franzen ripped Kane's mouthguard out of his mouth and threw it to the ice while the two were jawing at each other following a stoppage of play behind the Wings net.
"I'm kind of whacking the goalie (Ty Conklin) and [Franzen] comes in and just takes the mouthpiece and throws it," said Kane, who often skates around the ice chewing on his mouthguard instead of having it in his mouth. "You never really think he was going to come up and grab your mouthpiece and throw it out. It was kind of surprising at first. The ref was right there so I was hoping he was going to call something, maybe a misconduct. I was kind of asking the ref a little bit for that.
"It's kind of surprising. It's never happened before."
Kane told me, "it's pretty funny, check it out on Youtube."
August 10th 2009: (this piece starts with a short summary of what we know so far regarding the cab driver incident, and then:)
Now, back to that memory I mentioned.
During Kane's rookie season in 2007, the then 18-year-old was with his Hawks teammates in Detroit for a game against the Red Wings. I was staying in the same hotel as the team and a few hours before game time jumped into a cab and asked the driver to take me to Joe Louis Arena. After hearing my destination, the driver told me he'd just had a Hawks player in the cab and mentioned what a great guy the player was and that he had given the driver $50 for a $10 cab ride.
He then showed me the autograph the player had given him and it read: "Show me the money! (signed) Patrick Kane"
Irony aside, this certainly doesn't absolve Kane of any wrong-doing in Sunday's incident, but in my mind should help put to rest the notion that the altercation was because Kane, who as a rookie wasn't yet making millions of dollars but still gave the driver in Detroit a $40 tip, was too cheap to pay Radecki or tip him or that Kane disrespects working men and women such as cab drivers.
Obviously, either Kane's attitude toward cab drivers has changed, or something else happened on that street in the wee hours in Buffalo and until Kane speaks publicly about it (he hasn't returned several messages I've left) we won't know his side of things.
August 17th 2008: I won't c/p the whole thing here, for for anyone who cares for posterity, more about the cab driver incident from that week.
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