FEATURE: Patrick Kane Leading by Example

When Brent Seabrook's season was cut short due to injuries, a large void was left not only along the Blackhawks' blue line, but in the team's leadership.

As one of the Blackhawks' most-respected veterans, Seabrook - along with fellow defenseman Duncan Keith - wore an "A" on his sweater as an alternate captain. They served their roles helping captain Jonathan Toews lead the Blackhawks on the ice and in the dressing room.

So when coach Jeremy Colliton needed to replace Seabrook's "A," the decision to award it to Patrick Kane was an easy one.

"It's a no-brainer," Colliton said. "Even when (Kane) is not wearing an 'A,' he's still a leader … through his play (and) he's tremendously competitive - that's the thing you like about him the most. Everyone sees the skill, but there's a lot of guys who are skilled but … couple that with the competitiveness, the drive every day to be better and make a difference for the team, that's the thing for me that makes him so great. He is a leader on the team and continues to be a big part of any success we have."

In the past, Kane has served as alternate captain when injuries dictated, but it has been on a more permanent basis this season after Seabrook was shut down in mid-December with injuries to his shoulder and both hips.

Kane, who called wearing a letter "a great honor," added, "I've been with these guys for a long time so it's kind of fun to share that leadership group with them. I'd rather have 'Seabs' in the lineup and not be wearing it but it's still a big honor to wear a letter for the Blackhawks organization."

While Seabrook is one of the most vocal leaders on the Blackhawks - and likely the NHL with his tendency to boisterously support his teammates on and off the ice - Kane displays his own brand of leadership and it is mostly through example.

"I try to be vocal but I try to be myself," Kane said. "I'm not going to change just because I'm wearing a letter. Even when 'Seabs' is in I feel like I'm part of the leadership group, which includes the three guys wearing the letter and myself."

Toews, whose career has been in lock-step with Kane's since they entered the NHL during the 2007-08 season, said he has seen his fellow forward grow as a person throughout the years and that Kane's work ethic serves as a beacon to others on the Blackhawks.

"You've seen that his talent has always incredible but I think it's the way he prepares every single day and the way he dedicates himself to getting better that makes him a good leader," Toews said. "Every player is different and brings something different to the team but I think guys really see that he's trying to get better every day. He's never satisfied with where he's at so I think that's something anyone can take from him."