Blackhawks GM backs Patrick Kane, dodges off-ice behavior ‘trap question’
Chicago Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman hasn’t said much of anything about Patrick Kane since training camp, where he pretty much didn’t have much to say about Kane, either.
But he spoke with reporters before the Blackhawks’ game at the Vancouver Canucks, said Kane is “absolutely” in the team’s long-term plans and praised his star winger – on the ice, at least.
From Tracey Myers of CSN Chicago:
“You can’t find talent like that,” Bowman said. “You look at what he’s done over the course of his career, whether it’s this season, last season or since he was a rookie, he won rookie of the year. He’s been a game changer. He’s one of those guys that’s, I’ve said it a lot over the years. He’s able to elevate his game in pressure moments. Not too many guys are able to do that. Sometimes when the pressure gets on, they have a hard time performing, but he’s sort of the opposite. He seems to raise his game.”
As you know, the Erie County District Attorney said, in no uncertain terms, that Kane would face no criminal charges in sexual assault investigation stemming from an incident at his home in August.
So does Bowman fell “vindicated” in how it all worked out for Kane, who extended his point streak to 16 games last night?
“I don’t if I look at it as vindication. It’s not about that for me or for us. It’s really about just moving forward with things,” Bowman said. “Patrick has been the best player in the league. The first 20 games, he’s certainly been our best player and he’s had a lot of good starts over the years. He tends to start well. Last year, he had a really strong year up until he got injured. He sort of picked up where he left off, really and that’s the only way I would look at that. I wouldn’t characterize it as anything other than I’m happy to see the way he’s playing.”
Bowman was given a chance to heap praise on Kane off the ice as well, but decided – again – not to get into character questions.
“I’m not going to comment on that. I think that’s just a trap question,” he said, via the Chicago Tribune.
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