Kudos to anyone who knew beforehand what a “meteor hammer” was. My knowledge of the weapons of ancient warfare is limited.
I am of the opinion that Kill Bill, Volume 1 is the best Quentin Tarantino film made thus far (although I have yet to see The Hateful Eight). What he did for female heroines in Kill Bill, Volume 1 and Kill Bill, Volume 2 is analogous to when The Matrix revolutionized action sequences. For the uninitiated, the protagonist, “The Bride” (her name is not revealed until Kill Bill, Volume 2), goes on a killing spree to exact revenge on the people who tried to assassinate her during her wedding (which left her in a coma for a long time). From a storyline perspective, it is your typical revenge flick. From a cinematography and choreography viewpoint, it is a refreshing mishmash of styles.
Uma Thurman plays “The Bride”, a codename that was given to her by her colleagues who belonged to an organization of assassins, trained in the deadly martial arts. Needless to say, the violence that takes place is commissioned via swords, blades, hand-to-hand combat, and the spiked object called a “meteor hammer.” Go ahead and look it up.
It is so deadly that you’re probably more likely to injure yourself using it than the other person. Only a warrior with skill, coordination, and training would be able to use it effectively.
Hold that thought. Fast forward to the 2015-2016 NHL season.
Somebody must have tried to assassinate Patrick Kane. Wait, perhaps someone tried to assassinate his character. Either way, he is on a mission. It seems as though Kane has a chip on his shoulder, even for someone as accomplished as him.
In this summer of 2015, Kane was accused of sexual assault, a claim to which he professed his innocence vehemently from the time it became public. In November, the district attorney dropped all charges due to inconsistencies in the plaintiff’s testimonies and issues with a rape kit hoax involving the plaintiff’s mother.
Throughout the preseason and regular season, Kane has received his share of boos and displeasure from hockey fans throughout the NHL. This article is not meant to cast aspersions on his accuser nor is it meant to imply that he is culpable. This is an objective take on his astronomical improvement from the previous seasons in a career where he was already a star. This season he has been the most exciting player in hockey – forward, defenseman, or goalie – and it is rare in sports for an athlete to have a breakout season after leading their team to a championship in the previous campaign.
Well, Stephen Curry certainly comes to mind.
As of the All-Star break, Kane led the league (by far) with 73 points, amassing 30 goals and 43 assists through 53 games. His career high in points was 88 in that year, and he will more than likely crush that total within the next month.
Since the break, Kane has eclipsed his career-high in goals. Barring injury, Kane can surpass 100 points, a feat that has been accomplished by all of the greats who preceded him. Through 55 games, Kane currently has 75 points, meaning that he would have to amass 25 points over the next 27 games. Those are some truly lofty expectations, but based on what Kane has done so far, it is certainly not impossible for him.
The dearth of American hockey stars has been almost a running joke in the NHL. The majority of stars are either Canadian or European. As a former number-one overall draft pick, Kane may be the American hockey superstar that the NHL is missing. The U.S. tends to do well in goaltending, but in terms of churning out this type of offensive prowess, it is extremely rare. As the most prolific offensive talent in the league, supported by three Stanley Cups, Kane is on his way to a sure-fire Hall of Fame induction.
Currently, Kane may be the second-best American offensive hockey player of all-time, behind Mike Modano. With his stats, three Cups and five All-Star Game appearances already at the age of 27, Kane can certainly challenge Modano for the best American hockey player ever when his career is over. That is quite a while from now. Kane has at least five more years in his prime, which gives Chicagoans another reason to salivate. Not to mention that the Blackhawks have one of the top goalies in the NHL – Corey Crawford – and lines that feature Jonathan Toews, Marian Hossa, and Artemi Panarin on offense. Couple that with defensive talent in Brent Seabrook and Duncan Keith, and you are possibly looking at another championship in 2016 (and beyond).
The sky is the limit for the juggernaut Patrick Kane, especially when he is unleashing his Tarantino-esque assault on the NHL.
The question is, what began this “wrath” of Kane? Is the game just becoming that much easier for him, or is he trying to send a message?
Regardless, hockey fans are not complaining about his game.