Patrick Kane

I try to pride myself on being involved with the fans and taking pictures when they're asked for because I know I was that little kid one day that really looked up to stars like myself, and I try to give them that on my behalf.

It's pretty funny, just driving by in a cab, and you see a huge billboard of yourself on the side of a hotel, like a 100-by-100 poster hanging up.

I'm probably the guy who keeps it loose around the room and tries to joke around with guys before the game, keeping things funny.

It's funny: when you're skating around during warm-ups, I'll see signs that say things like: 'Kane, Prom?' We have a fun, young team, and girls are asking you to the prom and giving you their numbers.

You grow up... you spend five years rooming with each other, and you're going to get sick of each other at times. And you're going to have some good times as well.

I've always prided myself on being myself and trying to stick true to who I am and how I was raised.

I'll always welcome some extra shifts and some extra ice time, and it's my job to be as prepared as possible to play those minutes.

I like Joe Sakic. Coming out of Buffalo, I obviously like Alexander Mogliny, Pat LaFontaine. Hasek is up there. Miroslav Satan. Whoever seemed to be a good player at the time I'd watch. Jagr too. I tried to learn a lot from those guys.

I myself feel that I'm a well-rounded player and got a lot better defensively and without the puck as time has gone on.

That's something USA Hockey has been trying to do for a long time is prove that we can play with the Canadians and the Russians and the Swedes and Finns consistently on a tournament basis.

It's kind of crazy to think I'm still 22 and going into my fifth season. Time has been flying by. I think it's about that time I really take the next step to the elite level.

Just try to focus one game at a time, not worry about points or anything like that. Worry about playing the right way and see what comes of it.