The NHL is locked out, and nobody is quite sure where things go from here. A season is still a possibility, though many experts differ in opinion on where it will go. Still, many players are finding ways to keep busy, be it through playing overseas or just getting to the rink to work on their game. For Patrick Kane of the Chicago Blackhawks, it means a chance to refocus.
According to Chris Kuc of the Chicago Tribune, Kane is trying to remove the label of not being a hard worker. There's a quote on the situation below:
"There are definitely changes that have to be made in how I go about my time away from the rink. I feel like I've been better in that situation and it's something I'm looking to get better in. At the end of the day, the main thing I love to do is play hockey. That becomes more important than those other things off the ice."
Kane was photographed early in the offseason at a block party in which he looked pretty intoxicated. After that incident, many questioned his work ethic, especially during the offseason. He's spending more and more time at the rink working on his skating, according to the piece, and that's a good start. Nobody knows when hockey will be back, but Kane has spent the offseason (since the incident) as though he were going to play on time, and seems more prepared than ever.
For more on the Chicago Blackhawks, check out Second City Hockey. You can check out more hockey news from around the league at SB Nation's NHL page.