Evander Kane joined his Buffalo Sabres teammates for the first day of training camp on Thursday.
Kane and his Sabres mates took their physicals and performed off ice testing. They also posed for their head shot photos. On ice practice begins early Friday morning.
Kane was asked by media to comment on his eventful summer vacation. Kane didn't do much relaxing as he was embroiled in a high profile legal matter in Buffalo that stems from an incident at a local disco on June 24.
Kane said that his legal troubles come with the territory of being a famous professional athlete. In a way, it sounded like Kane is chalking it all up to "bleep happens".
"These situations are what they are,” Kane said.
"They happen to athletes or people in a position such as myself. Those are things you just have to deal with and kind of come with the territory. In saying that, you have to be a little more aware and kind of put yourself on a higher pedestal than you maybe think you are.
“Off the ice, these things unfortunately happen more often than not. They’re only becoming more and more relevant every day if you look around the other sports. For me, it’s just trying to stay out of that kind of stuff, kind of picking my spots better.”
So, these recurring off ice issues are a societal thing, eh, Evander?
Oh, ok.
Where's the contrition? The mea culpa? The "I won't make the same mistake again"?
I would have preferred hearing Kane explain the decision making process that put him in yet another high risk situation in the night in question. A plan of correction is always an essential part of turning the page.
Kane was charged with misdemeanor criminal trespass and five noncriminal charges of disorderly conduct and harassment. He is scheduled to return to Buffalo a city court on Halloween Day.
Kane said that he blocked out the noise and confusion and focused his attention on his fitness and hockey over the summer.
“I’ve been focused on hockey all summer,” Kane said.
“I haven’t really put too much thought or emphasis on the other stuff. I’ve just kind of narrowed my focus and focused on hockey and my training, and I’m feeling pretty good about that.”
Kane revealed that he has yet to speak about his legal matters with his bosses Tim Murray and coach Dan Bylsma. My guess is that Kane will be having more than one closed door chats inside the executive suite in the days to come. Kane also said that he has yet to her from the NHL.
“I’m just focused on this season and trying to have the best season of my career so far,” Kane said. “It’s not about necessarily proving to everybody else. It’s kind of proving more so to myself, knowing what I’m capable of and just kind of executing that and putting that on display.”
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