Patrick Kane To Attend Chicago Blackhawks Training Camp

Patrick Kane will be in attendance when the Chicago Blackhawks go to training camp this Friday. The Chicago Sun-Times reported the Blackhawks’ announcement regarding Kane’s availability in training camp just a short time ago. The embattled right wing is listed on the training camp roster. It is easy to assume that the Blackhawks anticipate Patrick Kane will be a full participant starting Friday.

The announcement puts to rest any speculation anyone had about Patrick Kane working out with his teammates as they prepare for the 2015-16 season.

First, the Blackhawks will have a media session tomorrow. Among those who will be available for the media will be team President and CEO John McDonough, Vice President and GM Stan Bowman, Coach Joel Quenneville, and select players. They will hold the media session and training camp on the Notre Dame University’s hockey facilities.

Of those players who will field questions, will one of them be Patrick Kane?

His story, which has been well documented over the past few weeks, will not be detailed at this time. The initial Buffalo News report can be read here. Depending on the results of the pending investigation, Patrick Kane could be in a lot of trouble, which is one of the reasons why having him at training camp is a potentially bad idea.

There is little doubt that the Blackhawks brass will get in front of the story tomorrow when they finally meet with the media. Statements have been issued by the team, but no one has stepped in front of the horde of reporters to offer any comments. If anyone expects for McDonough, Bowman, or Quenneville to take questions about Kane’s investigation, they will most likely be given a scripted statement that will count towards the team’s comments on the matter. Nothing will be mentioned by the players, except for the standard “we are a team, and we cannot wait to get camp started” speech.

Patrick Kane’s investigation is a distraction that can hardly be ignored. In fairness to the team, everything has to be business as usual. If not, the season for the Blackhawks is over before it even starts.

The Blackhawks need Patrick Kane if they want to have a good chance at repeating as Stanley Cup Champions. Patrick Kane has to be in the right frame of mind for them to have a shot. There was too much turnover during the offseason. The Blackhawks can not afford to have the focus be on their star player and the investigation that could possibly cost him some time in the regular season.

It is not the same team that won the Cup a few months ago. Chicago has gone through some roster changes due to salary cap concerns.

Brandon Saad, one of the key contributors to the team, is now with the Columbus Blue Jackets. Alternate captain Patrick Sharp was traded amid rumors regarding his personal life. Kris Versteeg is gone, and so is Johnny Oduya.

The players mentioned are just a handful who have since departed from the Blackhawks following the Stanley Cup. They will need some form of a constant, some semblance of continuity. Perhaps that factored in when they placed Patrick Kane’s name on the training camp roster.

Just because his name is listed does not mean that he will participate, though. It actually might be best that he stays off on his own to work out with the training staff. That will disrupt any chemistry that is created, but what is going on with Kane is a bigger deal than the team itself.

Patrick Kane will be at the Chicago Blackhawks training camp. We will have to wait to see if it will turn out to be a distraction.

[Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images Sport]