Kane going back home to right wing

Patrick Kane didn’t mean it to be funny, but that’s how it came off Thursday when discussing his move from center back to right wing.

“I realize what I use to do on the ice in that position,” Kane said. “I used to be good at it and set up plays and things like that. I’ve been playing it since I was 15 and have developed my game over there for seven or eight years, so I’m excited to be back.”

Yep, back in the old days the 23-year-old Kane used to be a pretty fair right winger.

Kane was shifted to center at the start of the season to help spread the offense around and the two-month experiment worked well for the most part. But Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville decided to go away from it for the foreseeable future starting with Friday’s game against the New York Islanders at the United Center.

Kane will play right wing on longtime running mate Jonathan Toews’ first line with Viktor Stalberg on the left side.

Quenneville felt it was simply time to try something different, although kick starting Kane’s slumping game was certainly part of the decision. Kane has no goals, 3 assists and is minus-3 in the Hawks’ last six games.

“It gives us a different look and something we get to try,” Quenneville said. “Johnny and Kaner have played well together so we’ll see how it looks. Knowing that you’ve always got Kaner in the middle in your back pocket is a nice option to have.”

Kane couldn’t hide his happiness with going back to wing and didn’t disagree that he might have become stale playing center.

“It was one of those things where everyone was talking about it in the beginning,” Kane said. “I pretty much proved I could play at the position, but after that it was one of those things where we got on the road, got on the long trip and things didn’t click for me personally at that position.

“They thought my game was fine, but I didn’t. I’m excited to be back at wing, playing a position I know and a position I’ve developed over a long time.”

With Kane going back to wing, Marcus Kruger will take over center on the second line between Patrick Sharp and Marian Hossa.

The 21-year-old Kruger’s game has developed over the last month to the point Quenneville wants to see if the rookie can handle more responsibility.

“Marcus gives us an option, so we’ll see how he handles playing with the top guys,” Quenneville said. “It’s more of an experiment that was as well.”

Kruger was one of the Hawks’ best players on the 3-3 road trip. He has become more confident with the puck offensively while continuing to be one of the most responsible players on the defensive side of the puck.

“He’s a confident player and he’s played a big chunk of minutes here lately,” Sharp said. “He’s good with the puck and he goes to battle areas and he’s composed out there.”

Kruger certainly doesn’t expect to be Kane out there with the puck.

“I’m just going to try to play my game,” Kruger said. “They’re two great players and I’m looking forward to it. I know I can’t change my game.”

Kruger now has gone from being one of the last cuts at training camp to second line center.

“Where he progressed from at the beginning of camp to where he is today, maybe that’s a big surprise, but from watching him in camp two years ago we felt he had the potential to move up in the lineup,” Quenneville said. “He’s really progressed well here and I like his quickness, too.

“The thing that maybe caught our attention is his patience and play recognition on the offensive side of things. Playing with some top guys, we’ll see if maybe more of that can come out.”