Patrick Kane said the injuries and roster decisions that have changed the Chicago Blackhawks this offseason are not all bad news.
"There's a lot of opportunity for players to establish themselves as NHL players, and for guys that have done that to establish themselves as elite players," the forward said Monday. "It's an exciting time."
The Blackhawks opened camp Monday without captain Jonathan Toews, who announced on Dec. 29 he is out indefinitely due to a medical issue. Another center, Kirby Dach, will be out 4-5 months following wrist surgery for an injury sustained at the IIHF World Junior Championship in December. Forward Alex Nylander is out 4-6 months following surgery after tearing a meniscus in the Stanley Cup Playoffs last season, and the Blackhawks also decided not to re-sign goalie Corey Crawford and traded forward Brandon Saad to the Colorado Avalanche on Oct. 10.
It's a new-look team, and Kane said he can't wait to get going.
"It's exciting for me personally just to be myself," the 31-year-old said. "I've always enjoyed being around the young guys, and nothing really changes in that department. I can learn from them too. As far as where we're at, there's a lot of opportunity. Someone else will get a chance to play big minutes and play a big role. It's a chance for us to come together as a team and take a step forward."
[RELATED: Blackhawks season preview: Center issues must be solved]
It's opportunity for forwards Matthew Highmore, 24, Lucas Wallmark, 25, and MacKenzie Entwistle, 21. Highmore scored eight points (four goals, four assists) in 49 regular-season games and four points (three goals, one assist) in nine postseason games for the Blackhawks. Wallmark, who signed a one-year contract Oct. 12, scored 23 points (11 goals, 12 assists) in 60 games with the Carolina Hurricanes and two points (one goal, one assist) in seven games with the Florida Panthers, who acquired him from Carolina in a trade for forward Vincent Trocheck on Feb. 24, 2020. Wallmark didn't have a point in two postseason games for Florida. Entwistle, who has no NHL experience, scored 26 points (11 goals, 15 assists) in 56 games with Rockford of the American Hockey League last season.
The biggest void was left by Toews, who scored 60 points (18 goals, 42 assists) in 70 games last season, second to Kane, who scored 84 points (33 goals, 51 assists) in 70 games. Toews had nine points (five goals, four assists) in nine postseason games, tied with Kane for the Chicago lead.
"It doesn't feel like a team without Jonny as your captain," Kane said of the center.
Dach, who scored 23 points (eight goals, 15 assists) in 64 regular-season games and six points (one goal, five assists) in nine postseason games, was likely going to play on a line with Kane and was expected to take a bigger step this season. Nylander, injured in Chicago's five-game loss to the Vegas Golden Knights in the best-of-7 Western Conference First Round, scored an NHL career-high 26 points (10 goals, 16 assists) in 65 regular-season games.
"It's different, but at the same time, I'm excited to see what other guys have," Chicago forward Alex DeBrincat said. "I've been skating with a few of the guys the past few days before camp and they're looking pretty good. Hopefully they can be a big part of this team and hopefully we have a good season."
The Blackhawks (32-30-8, .514 points percentage) finished 12th in the Western Conference last season. They defeated the Edmonton Oilers in the best-of-5 Stanley Cup Qualifiers before losing to the Golden Knights.
Kane skated Monday with left wing DeBrincat and Dylan Strome on what could be the first line when Chicago opens its season against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Amalie Arena on Jan. 13.
Strome has played wing more with the Blackhawks but will get a big opportunity at center, his natural position, in Toews and Dach's absence. The 23-year-old, who signed a two-year, $6 million contract Jan. 3, scored 38 points (12 goals, 26 assists) in 58 regular-season games and three points (two goals, one assists) in nine postseason games.
"Those are obviously two pretty key guys to lose," Strome said Monday. "You play your own game. I'm a confident player when I get the puck, try to make plays, be smart with it and use my energy wisely. Just have to continue to do that. I'm just going to be myself, play hockey, have fun."
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January 05, 2021 at 08:37AM
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Kane says Blackhawks in 'exciting time' after injuries, departures - NHL.com
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