Kane becomes the right rookie for Hawks
A year ago at this time and in possession of the first pick in the draft, Blackhawks general manager Dale Tallon was telling everyone he hadn't decided on what player to take.
But Tallon knew. He was simply playing the draft game.
Tallon knew that Patrick Kane was his guy, a decision he arrived at months earlier when he had no idea the pingpong balls would bounce the Hawks' way and they would win the lottery for the No. 1 pick.
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"We saw him at the World Junior Championships in January and we knew he was No. 1 on our list, even though at that time we didn't know where we'd pick," Tallon said.
The Hawks picked Kane first overall last June and the rest is history, some of which was made Thursday night in Toronto when Kane won the Calder Trophy as NHL rookie of the year.
Kane became the Hawks' first rookie of the year since goalie Ed Belfour in 1991 and is the team's eighth Calder winner, joining Belfour, Steve Larmer (1983), Tony Esposito (1970), Bill Hay (1960), Ed Litzenberger (1955), Carl Dahlstrom (1938) and Mike Karakas (1936).
"It was an unbelievable feeling when I heard my name called," said Kane, who beat out Washington's Nicklas Backstrom and Hawks teammate Jonathan Toews for the honor.
"It's nerve-wracking sitting there," Kane said. "You want your name called, but I can honestly say I would have been just as happy if Jonathan had won. Without him I probably wouldn't have even been there."
Kane received 71 of 133 first-place votes from members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association to 30 for Backstrom and 19 for Toews.
Kane led all rookies in scoring with 72 points on 21 goals and 51 assists, proving wrong those critics who questioned whether he could take the pounding in the NHL at 5-feet-10 and 163 pounds.
"A lot of experts questioned whether I could get it done, so getting this award will maybe silence them," Kane said.
"It's the size of his heart that matters," Tallon said. "He went beyond expectations. He easily could have had 20 more points with any luck around the net. He had a terrific year and finished so strong the last six weeks when you think he might have been worn out. And he's only going to get better."
One of Kane's biggest goals for the future is to score more goals than the 21 he bagged as a rookie.
"I was pretty happy with 72 points as a kid, but next year I want to score more goals to help the team," Kane said. "It's a totally different game than in juniors and you have to learn how to score goals in the NHL. I thought by the end of the season I was on top of my game."
The Hawks already have started Kane on a program to add more bulk. Tallon said the sky is the limit for Kane's potential once he fills out physically.
"He's certainly not a perimeter player," Tallon said. "He doesn't back down from anybody. Watch out when he gets to the next level and gets stronger and fitter.
"It's hard to say how good he can be, but look at the numbers for his whole life. They're phenomenal. I would think at the minimum he's going to be a point-a-game guy."
Just this week Kane began working out for next season after taking a few weeks off to rest following playing in the World Championships for the U.S.
"I took a few weeks and just hung out, played street hockey and basketball and just tried to be a 19-year-old kid," Kane said. "I'm going to work hard this summer to put on some weight and muscle and just get better for the team and for myself.
"I think we're all committed to winning in Chicago next season."
Kane and Toews also were named to the NHL all-rookie team along with Backstrom, Montreal goalie Carey Price and defensemen Tobias Enstrom of Atlanta and Tom Gilbert of Edmonton.