I always go home to Buffalo in the offseason. I really enjoy my home town.
— Patrick Kane
I think sometimes when you play those extra shifts, it gets you into the game a little bit more and gets you a little bit more involved.
It's great to be able to continue my career in Chicago. Playing with the best organization in sports and the best fans in the game is a blessing.
Obviously ,you want to demand the puck; you want to have it as much as you can because you feel like good things can happen when it's on your stick.
Understanding where to be in your own zone really takes some time and development to learn.
I myself feel that I'm a well-rounded player and got a lot better defensively and without the puck as time has gone on.
We're here to win. We're not here just for the experience.
It's kind of cool to have the whole country at your back. Not just a city, but the whole country is rooting for you.
It's kind of crazy to think I'm still 22 and going into my fifth season. Time has been flying by. I think it's about that time I really take the next step to the elite level.
My favorite thing to do in this world is to be on the ice playing hockey and try to entertain fans and bring wins to the Chicago Blackhawks.
Something even minor I do is going to be reported because of things that have happened in the past. You have to be aware of that.
When you're 18, 19, you think you know everything, but you have no clue about anything.
Sometimes it's nice just being in your own room and having a quiet night and relaxing and getting ready for the game.
You want maybe to be that guy or one of the few guys who can help develop the game in the United States.
I've noticed if you look too far ahead, it only works negatively on you.
The little kids in the stands are going to give you a good cheer. Sometimes, that overrides the other people.
I love to play the game, love to be around the rink, and love to joke around with my teammates and have some fun.
It's cool that I'm 20 and am on the cover of the video game. A lot of kids play hockey, and a few get drafted, and only a few get to be on the cover. It's a great feeling.
I know hockey is growing in the U.S., and it's becoming more popular, but anything to get the game out there and see how we view it. We view it as the best game in the world.
Since I was drafted by the Blackhawks, the people of Chicago have really embraced me and treated me with nothing but respect.
Obviously, you want to help the team win in any way possible. If that's scoring goals, great.
Just try to get the puck and make plays, not so much worry about scoring or getting an assist or points, just try to get it and make plays. That should take care of itself.
There are great fans in Chicago. I think you'd rather have them recognize than not recognize you.
I'm not out there to be blocking shots or fighting guys. I'm out there to produce offensively.
It's pretty funny, just driving by in a cab, and you see a huge billboard of yourself on the side of a hotel, like a 100-by-100 poster hanging up.
I like having those preseason games and exhibitions to really get ready for the regular season and get yourself off to a good start.
I want to be someone who can be a role model to kids - and to everyone, for that matter.
It has been a motto of mine my whole life - just be yourself.
I think you grow up every year, every day. You learn something new and try to really worry about what's important in life.
I'm just kind of focused on playing the game and try to get better at certain things and wipe the slate clean every night.
I don't want to be satisfied with where I'm at or happy about what I've done. I want to keep pushing it.
It's good for the NHL to implement different things - the 3-on-3, money that'll go to players - to try to get us to play at a higher level.
I love scoring for the fans, for the team, for myself. That's not to say that I won't pass if I see a teammate in a better scoring position. But I like to score.
Especially in the day and age now with social media and cameraphones and things like that, you always have to act like you're being watched.
I'll always welcome some extra shifts and some extra ice time, and it's my job to be as prepared as possible to play those minutes.
I think for me, personally, I'm a guy who has watched ESPN ever since I've been growing up. You turn it on, and it's one of the first stories - the Blackhawks and hockey, which you don't really see on that station. That's cool to see.
I think you try to improve every season and every game and be prepared about certain defensemen you're playing against, certain ways to find open ice.
As an offensive player, you always want to produce and score goals, especially when that's your job on the team.
I think, for me, I'm a player that wants the puck, and I'm a better player when I have it.
Whether it's just walking down the street to try to go to a movie, go to dinner, something like that, there are always a few people that recognize you.
That's something USA Hockey has been trying to do for a long time is prove that we can play with the Canadians and the Russians and the Swedes and Finns consistently on a tournament basis.
It's good when you're getting points - you're obviously feeling confident.
I know the person I am, and I know the person I can be.
I try to pride myself on being involved with the fans and taking pictures when they're asked for because I know I was that little kid one day that really looked up to stars like myself, and I try to give them that on my behalf.
I've always prided myself on being myself and trying to stick true to who I am and how I was raised.
If you do something wrong, it's going to be all over the place. Not only does that go for me, but anyone in here. You just really have to be aware of it.
I don't know if I expected to be a captain of an All-Star team. It's pretty cool.
Just try to focus one game at a time, not worry about points or anything like that. Worry about playing the right way and see what comes of it.
It's good to get out there and kind of move the body around a little bit, play some hockey, enjoy Nashville as a city and spend some time with family and friends.
I love to score goals, and I love to plan my celebrations.
