Kane signed and ready to deliver

Normally it's a surprise whenever a prospect drafted the previous summer makes an NHL team.

But in Patrick Kane's case, it would be a shocker if he doesn't make the Blackhawks' opening-night roster after training camp.

The Hawks signed the 18-year-old Kane to a three-year, entry-level contract Wednesday, with general manager Dale Tallon saying he didn't see any reason why the No. 1 pick overall in last month's draft wouldn't start the year in Chicago.

"I don't see why not," Tallon said. "He believes he can make it. I think he will."

Watching the highly skilled Kane dominate scrimmages at the recent prospects camp only reinforced Tallon's belief that the 5-foot-10, 160-pound winger could play in the NHL right now.

"It didn't matter who he was out there with or against, it always seemed he came away with the puck," Tallon said. "He just always had the puck, which is what great offensive players do. He's smart with the puck and makes everyone on the ice with him better."

Tallon finalized the deal with agent Pat Brisson, who was hired by Kane only last week. Kane had said he wouldn't get an agent until after signing the contract but changed his mind.

"We started discussing things with (Kane), but last week he called and said he had hired an agent and to start dealing with him," Tallon said. "It didn't change anything that he was going to get."

Kane signed the maximum deal for a rookie, worth $3.7 million a year should he hit all his bonuses. Kane's base salary will be $875,000, which is the rookie max.

Kane led the Canadian Hockey League last season with 62 goals and 83 assists in just 58 games with the London Knights. He was the Ontario Hockey League's rookie of the year and a first-team all-star.

"The Blackhawks organization has treated my family and me in a first-class manner, and I'm looking forward to a long and exciting career with the team," Kane said in a statement.

Kane's signing leaves defenseman James Wisniewski as the Hawks' only unsigned regular. "That will get done shortly," Tallon said.

The payroll sits at roughly $43.7 million, almost $7 million under the new cap of $50.3 million.

The battle for jobs on defense should be one of the more interesting stories of training camp. Anything is possible on the depth chart behind Brent Seabrook, Duncan Keith and Andrei Zyuzin. Those battling for jobs will be Wisniewski, Jim Vandermeer, Cam Barker, Magnus Johansson, Dustin Byfuglien and Danny Richmond.

"You can never have enough good defensemen," Tallon said. "The key to success is competition. In the past there was no threat to anyone about losing their jobs. Now we think we have a lot of guys that can play."

Tallon still is looking to tweak the roster before camp. He would like to add more grit at wing and on defense but admits there might not be a deal to be made until training camp approaches in September.

"It's pretty quiet now, and it should stay that way for a while," Tallon said.