Sept. 22--As Patrick Kane drove into the Blackhawks fan festival Monday night, he saw several fans in No. 88 sweaters waiting to get into the building.
Normally, that's nothing new for Kane. But now, the embattled Blackhawks winger remains under investigation over an alleged sexual assault at his home in western New York.
Kane said Tuesday he appreciates the fan support he has seen since the Hawks began training camp Friday at the University of Notre Dame.
"I think support has been really good," he said. "I think just driving in last night you see some No. 88s walking into the building and things like that. It's pretty cool to see. Fans have always been great here but especially the past week or so, the support has been great. It's kind of what you come to expect from Chicago fans."
Kane, who answered media questions with a Blackhawks public relations representative nearby Tuesday, will take the ice for Tuesday night's exhibition opener against the Red Wings.
At the morning skate, Kane worked alongside center Artem Anisimov and Teuvo Teravainen.
"With all the skating we're doing it seems like you get back into that stride pretty quick," Kane said. "I think it's something you try to improve on every day, is both skating and shooting, stick-handling, all that stuff to make sure you're ready to go once the season starts."
Kane's status for the start of the regular season remains clouded by the investigation, in which the Erie County district attorney's office is expected to begin grand jury proceedings later this month. If Kane is charged, it will likely result in an immediate and indefinite suspension from the NHL. But for now, Kane plans to start the season on Oct. 7 at home.
He likely won't play in Wednesday's road contest at Detroit. Coach Joel Quenneville said he is not planning to play many regulars in the exhibition games. He did not say whether he would have Kane play on the road to gauge the reception from opposing fans.
"We'll see how that plays out," Quenneville said.
