Joel Quenneville (photo credit: Getty Images)
(WSCR) – On the eve of this shortened hockey season, Blackhawks head coach Joel Quenneville joined The McNeil and Spiegel Show to give fans a preview of the upcoming year.
As the Blackhawks prepared to kick off this 48-game season Saturday against the Kings in LA, the head coach said he’s expecting big things from Patrick Kane both on and off the ice.
“He looks good,” Quenneville said. “I like his focus and attention. He looks like he’s ready to have a big season. He looks like he’s committed to putting everything in the right place and to take charge. I think he looks like he’s absorbing some leadership here, as well. I think everybody progresses over time, and he’s still a young kid. He’s been growing up every single year here. You can see the progress. We’re looking for progress in his play as well.”
After the NHL lockout cut the season almost in half, Coach Q said he was impressed with the shape of his players as the team convened for a shortened training camp.
“Everybody from Day 1 looked like they had been doing something. Nobody looked out of place. Nobody looked out of condition. It was a good start right from the first day. The pace picked up as we went along, but nobody looked like they put on some extra pounds. I think everybody just wants to play games.”
