from Mark Spector of Sportsnet,

Kane is his own man though. He couldn’t care less what people think.

“Why do those other leagues have more success in terms of marketing their players? Their personalities?” he asks. “Hockey is the sport that I love, but it’s also the entertainment business. The ice is a stage. When I’m in front of the cameras it’s a stage. Fans come to the building to be entertained. They read the newspapers to be entertained. They listen to the radio to be entertained. If you are mindful of that, maybe me winning money in Las Vegas and being excited about it — like anyone else would — isn’t the worst thing in the world.

“There is that (humble) reputation in hockey,” he admits. “But I think now you’re starting to see some diversity in personalities. The way social media is now … just the spotlight being on you so much. I think it’s going to benefit everybody.”

If “everybody” doesn’t include all the people here who cringe every time they hear Kane is making another headline, then perhaps he is right. At 23 he is a genuine first-line left-winger, an absolutely chiseled stud at 6-foot-2, 198 pounds....

The young man is all hockey player. He should own this town. But every time they open their heart to him he puts them on call waiting. It’s as if there is another NHL city on the other line talking to Kane’s heart, 24-7.

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