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Too early to mark Kane as top Art Ross candidate?

Just three games into the season, it seems a bit premature to start wondering if Patrick Kane could end up winning the Art Ross Trophy (given to the player with the most points) come April.

But his impressive start (3G, 3A) combined with the electric chemistry between him and linemates Artem Anisimov and Artemi Panarin makes it something worth talking about.

Last season, Kane had 64 points when he suffered a broken collarbone in the Hawks' 61st game. He was on pace for an 86-point campaign, which would have put him 1 behind league-leader Jamie Benn.

Kane said Monday he has no problem thinking along those lines.

"That's kind of how I'm judged as a player," he said. "I'm judged on how many chances I'm creating out there; how many points I'm getting. That's just the way it is for me. I'm looked at as an offensive guy and you're always looking to produce."

Still, don't think Kane solely focuses on goals and assists.

"If you go into a game worried about points, you always come out with nothing," Kane said.

Last season was an anomaly in that it normally takes 100-plus points to win an NHL scoring title. Only three times in the last 13 years has a champion finished with fewer than 104 points. Since the league went to an 82-game schedule, Benn's total of 87 was the lowest in a season not shortened due to labor problems.

Kane's career high is 88 points, which came in 2009-10. That placed him ninth, 24 points behind league leader Henrik Sedin.

If Kane, who is off to a far better start than last season when it took him seven games to register 6 points, were to finish on top, he would become the first American-born player to earn the honor.

"There's been so many great American players. It's hard to believe no one has done it," said Kane, who then added while chuckling a bit: "It's three games into the season; you've got 79 left.

"I think the biggest thing for me is to try and stay healthy for a full 82. ... That's one of my main goals this year is to stay healthy."

Kane played in 61 and 69 games the last two seasons.

As for his line, Kane's excited about how things have gone thus far, but he's already hoping for more.

"I'll try to stress to Anisimov and Panarin to not be satisfied with where we're at right now," Kane said. "This could be a fun line to play on. ... We want to make sure we stay together as a line."

Leaders of the pack

NHL scoring leaders since 2005-06 season:

Season Player, pts.

2014-15 Jamie Benn, 87

2013-14 Sidney Crosby, 104

2011-12 Evgeni Malkin, 109

2010-11 Daniel Sedin, 104

2009-10 Henrik Sedin, 112

2008-09 Evgeni Malkin, 113

2007-08 Alex Ovechkin, 112

2006-07 Sidney Crosby, 120

2005-06 Joe Thornton, 125

Note: Lockout-shortened season of 2012-13 not included

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