Bizarre Hawks training camp continues as Murphy, Maatta both sit

Most of the Blackhawks returned to the ice Friday after a day off as they continue what can only be described as one bizarre training camp.

Not only because it's in July. Not only because the playoffs won't begin until August 1. And not only because these playoffs will include 24 teams playing in two cities.

What makes it truly bizarre is the unknown.

What is wrong with Corey Crawford? Does he have the coronavirus? Could he be back early next week, as some speculate?

We simply don't know.

Friday brought more questions because defensemen Connor Murphy and Olli Maatta were both declared "unfit to participate" by coach Jeremy Colliton.

Asked why the league is being so vague with injury/virus issues, Colliton said: "That was collectively bargained with the (players association). So between the PA and NHL, that's how they decided we're going to communicate."

So now we have no idea if the Hawks may be without their top goaltender and two of their top six defensemen.

And we're still two weeks away from Game 1. Who knows where all the teams will be by then.

The lack of transparency is unfortunate, but it's what we can expect moving forward.

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The longest Zoom interview of camp took place Friday with Patrick Kane. It lasted 19 minutes as reporters peppered the Hawks' superstar with a variety of questions.

Here are some of the highlights:

• When we last spoke with Kane about a month ago, he expressed some concerns about the NHL's Return to Play protocol. Friday, he was asked what he thought about the final outcome.

Kane: "Obviously, there are certain things as players you always wish that could be a little bit better, but given the circumstances I feel like it's a pretty fair deal for both sides.

"At that point in time (during his previous interview) ... certain dates are coming out and nothing's really figured out. So I think as a player you want to kind of step back and look at the whole picture and wait until everything's agreed upon.

"Now that that's the case, it's great. Very excited to be back here at training camp, excited to be going to play in the playoffs."

• On Brent Seabrook being able to participate: "Happy he's back, given the surgeries that he went through. Credit to him. He made a lot of sacrifices, worked extremely hard on his body. ...

"Listen, obviously we love having Seabs around. He's an amazing person, amazing teammate. Love being around the guy. But he can be beneficial on the ice, too. We've seen it time and time again in the playoffs. He steps up in the big moments. ...

"We'll see what his body tells him going forward in camp, but he's looked good out there. Hopefully we have him on the ice for playoffs in Game 1.

• On making sure everyone - and perhaps most importantly, the young guys - is ready for Game 1 vs. Edmonton: "Playing in the NHL, the one thing you want to do is play in the playoffs and have a chance to play for the Stanley Cup. I don't think we'll need to put too much motivation in those guys because that's a lifetime goal of a lot of guys that haven't played in playoffs before. They'll be excited, they'll play hard. Not really worried about that.

"It's more of a challenge when you're playing in an empty building. Does it really feel like the playoffs? That'll be all of us trying to get up to speed and understand the situation right away.

"It's nice that we have an exhibition game (against St. Louis). Then right when that puck drops against Edmonton, it's like, 'OK. No matter what's going on in the city or in the world or anything going on in the crowd - this is playoffs. This is for real.'"

• On the NHL's decision to return to the Olympics: "It's great, it's exciting. ... Hopefully fight for a roster spot, get on the team and try to do something special.

"That would be unbelievable to bring an Olympic gold back to the U.S., (and) say you did that and (were) part of a team like that.

"You look at the Americans, we've got a lot of young talent, we've got a lot of guys in a couple years will be better than they are now. So looks like the future is bright for USA Hockey."

• On what he might bring to Edmonton to stay busy: "For me personally, I feel like I was playing a little bit too much Xbox during isolation/quarantine, so I don't want to bring it with me. ... Probably will stay away from that, but I'm sure some of the guys will bring it. So (I might) hop in.

"When you're in playoffs, that's pretty much all you do anyway; you go to and from the rink, you stay in the hotel, you hang out in the lounge with the guys, you watch other hockey games. Once we're there and in the bubble I think it'll be OK."