Oilers` Kane seems to be hitting his stride as playoffs loom

It was baseball that gave us the mythical “five-tool player,” a reference to that rare prospect who grades out above average in each of the sport's primary tools: speed, arm strength, fielding, hitting for average and hitting for power.

It’s the rare cat – or (Mike) Trout — who possesses each of those tools in baseball. But what about hockey?

Wayne Gretzky, for instance, was an average skater with an average shot and average size, who did not play a physical game. Yet, he is the greatest ever to lace up a pair of skates.

How many tools would that perfect hockey player would have to possess? And perhaps he wouldn’t be the ultimate superstar, but instead, just that near perfect conglomeration of hockey skills, all wrapped up into a package that helps you win games — however they are played.

There is a big difference in playing against this Edmonton Oilers team, when the six-foot-two, 210-pound Kane is patrolling the left wing. And his teammates know it.

“He's a big body. He's physical. He's intimidating,” begins the Oilers' well-spoken winger Zach Hyman. “He's not afraid. He gets in on the forecheck. He can fight. He can score. Not many guys have that combination of skill and grit these days and he's somebody who has both.”

Kane is an above-average skater and shooter of the puck. He can pass it well enough to trade pucks with the likes of McDavid or Leon Draisaitl, though admittedly, Kane is more finisher than set-up man. He plays physical and is willing to fight, a dying art in today’s game.

“He plays with a lot of pace,” McDavid assessed. “He's a big, strong guy who gets in on the forecheck hard. I wouldn't want to be a D and go back to retrieve pucks with him (bearing down on you).”

Kane scores at an above-average rate, 13 times in 15 playoff games last season, and 15 in an interrupted 35 games this season, including the winner in Thursday’s 2-0 victory over Los Angeles. He also led that game with eight hits.

It’s been a long year, between having his wrist stepped on by Pat Maroon in November (missed 31 games), and breaking a rib shortly after he returned (missed nine more).

Read More