Blackhawks’ Patrick Kane to miss time with upper-body injury

The Chicago Blackhawks broke out their objectively snazzy “Hometown Remix” jerseys on Monday, but not much else went well during their 5-2 loss to the Colorado Avalanche. Not only did the Blackhawks lose their third straight game, but winger and franchise legend Patrick Kane left in the second period with an upper-body injury. The team later confirmed that Kane would not return to the game.

After the loss, head coach Jeff Blashill revealed that Kane is expected to miss at least the next couple of games.

The exact cause of Kane’s injury is unclear, but he seemed to be laboring somewhat before heading to the dressing room.

Kane, 37, has a goal and eight assists for nine points in 14 games this season, putting him in a tie with center Connor Bedard for the team lead in scoring.

The Buffalo, New York native returned to Chicago this past offseason, signing a two-year, $16 million contract as an unrestricted free agent. He spent the last three years with the Detroit Red Wings, including last season when he notched 16 goals and 41 assists for 57 points in 67 games.

Selected first overall by the the Blackhawks in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft, Kane played his first 15-plus NHL seasons in Chicago, winning three Stanley Cups, the 2013 Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP, and the 2016 Hart Trophy as regular season MVP, among other accolades. He was also selected as one of the NHL’s 100 Greatest Players as part of the league’s centennial celebration in 2017.

Kane currently ranks second behind Stan Mikita on the Blackhawks’ all-time scoring leaderboard with 1,234 points.

This season has not gone according to plan for Chicago as of yet. The Blackhawks sit last in the Central Division with nine points through 15 games.

Chicago will kick off a three-game road trip against the Florida Panthers on Wednesday, before visiting the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday and the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday.