Patrick Kane Is Taking a European Vacation

By Rob Winn in News on Oct 24, 2012 3:45PM

Patrick Kane has become the latest Blackhawk to head across the pond to play in Europe during the NHL lockout. Kane took to his surprisingly bland twitter account to make the announcement.

"Excited and thankful to join EHC Biel in the Swiss league. Looking forward to the experience."

Kane will play forward for the Swiss National League A team EHC Biel. However, he will still play in Friday night's "Champs for Charity" exhibition game at Allstate Arena with other members of the 2010 Stanley Cup team.

The move will surely make the Hawks front office nervous for his health—both on and off the ice. But they can take solace in the fact that Kane will make his home in Biel, which is known for low-key parties such as the International Chess Festival. He will join fellow Hawks Viktor Stalberg, Bryan Bickell, Michal Rozsival and Michael Frolik in the European leagues.

At first, European-born players were the first to join the Swiss leagues and KHL, but now more and more North American players are heading over as the lockout drags on. And with the increasingly tense rhetoric from players and owners this week, the possibility of a season-long lockout is becoming more of a reality.