With 46 goals and 106 points, Patrick Kane had one hell of a season.
He became the first American-born player to win the scoring race, and is likely to take home the Hart Trophy as the league's most valuable player.
While clearing out his locker after a rare Chicago Blackhawks first-round playoff exit, Kane said this season may have been the most fun he's ever had on the ice as a professional.
"I've had a lot of fun playing this year - maybe throughout the regular season, more fun than any year," Kane said Wednesday, according to Mark Potash of the Chicago Sun Times. "Teaming up with (Artem Anisimov and Artemi Panarin) on a line and seeing your chemistry build and scoring goals and being able to control the puck and playing the game that way you want, it was a lot of fun doing that."
Although his career-high regular season was the league's best, the offseason that preceded it was the polar opposite. Kane was investigated for an accusation of sexual assault in the summer, though no charges were ultimately filed.
Kane doesn't want to attract that type of spotlight again as he enters another offseason.
"Probably more than ever, you know that all eyes are on you," Kane said.
"I think it goes without saying that in today's world, with the social media and everything you're doing, you almost have to act like there's a camera on you or someone's watching you at all times, whether you like it or not. I guess you kind of live and learn from those situations."
