Patrick Kane and Evander Kane share more than a surname.
Both have a history of receiving negative press for their off-ice antics, and it’s something Patrick believes Evander can move on from.
“Everyone kind of has their own maturation process, and you go through some bumps in the road, that’s for sure,” Patrick told the Chicago Sun Times Wednesday after Evander was traded from the Winnipeg Jets to the Buffalo Sabres in a blockbuster deal.
In August 2009, at the age of 20, Patrick and his cousin were arrested for allegedly assaulting a cab driver and not paying the full fare. In 2012, the Chicago Blackhawks star also faced backlash from fans and media for his off-season partying. However, unlike Evander – and former Boston Bruins centre Tyler Seguin, for that matter – Patrick wasn’t traded.
“Everyone has a different path,” Kane said. “I was lucky enough when I was going through my bumps that the Blackhawks stuck with me and gave me another chance. I wouldn’t rather be anywhere else, so I’m very fortunate for that.
“The times kind of changed when I was coming up,” Patrick continued. “The Internet and the social media and the Twitter and all that stuff really became popular. Stuff when I first came in the league, you could kind of do and it wouldn’t be noticed anywhere. And if you did that with the social media now, it’s everywhere. So, you kind of become aware of that a little bit and realize there are eyes on you all the time.
“You could kind of see that maybe [Evander] was going to get moved, with all the speculation that’s been going on the past few weeks. He’s going to Buffalo now. I wish him all the best.”
