Patrick Kane understands the nostalgia angle of his Blackhawks return runs deep. It means a lot to him, too, to likely finish his career in the city where he carved his reputation as arguably the greatest American player in NHL history.
But he repeatedly emphasized Friday that nostalgia was not the sole factor behind his decision to sign with the Hawks. He’s not returning to Chicago simply to “ride off into the sunset” down Madison Street.
“All [of] that is great, but that’s not why I’m here,” Kane said. “That’s not the story. It’s to come back, help this team win, help this team get in the playoffs.”
Even with three Stanley Cup rings and 143 games of playoff experience, Kane hasn’t gotten to enjoy postseason electricity much lately. Aside from the 2020 bubble, his only playoff appearance since 2017 came in the Rangers’ disappointing first-round loss in 2023.
So choosing the Hawks over the Sabres — the Atlantic Division’s top seed last season — represented a vote of confidence in the ultra-young Hawks as a “team on the rise,” as well.
Kane and Connor Bedard forming a deadly offensive connection would certainly help the Hawks achieve their potential sooner. Kane said he texted Bedard some Thursday; they’ll catch up more in the coming days.
“This will be my 20th year in the league, and I’ll probably see passes I’ve never seen before [by] playing with him,” Kane said.
Kane has also been skating with Frank Nazar this summer and has been impressed by his work ethic and speed.
“I saw something where [Anton] Frondell is closer to my son in age than he is to me,” he added. “That’s going to be a little bit different, but…I love playing with young guys. It helps keep me fresh.
“I hope it’s not the case where I’m coming in and they’re looking at me differently than they would any of their other teammates. I know there’s probably going to be certain circumstances where that happens. … I’m not saying I want to be just another guy on the team — I want to be a big leader and help the team take the next steps — but I want them to view me as their teammate.”
Those comments are surely music to general manager Kyle Davidson’s ears, considering his explanation for not bringing back Kane or Jonathan Toews the past few years was that wanted the Hawks’ young generation to develop their own leadership structure without instinctively deferring to legendary veterans.
He believes enough of that growth has now occurred — Bedard, for one, has taken full ownership of the team — that Kane’s return won’t disrupt any chemistry.
“These young players have established themselves,” Davidson said. “They know what the NHL is like. They know their way around the league a little bit. So…it’s the right time for [Kane] to come step in.
“There’s a lot of different things he can impart on our young players, not only how to become better players but even the unique experience of what it means…to win as a Blackhawk. He’s one of the very select few that possesses that understanding.”
So yes, nostalgia might not have been the sole factor, but it did hold some sway.
“[Returning to Chicago had] always been in the back of my mind,” Kane said. “I don’t know if I ever thought it was possible, to be honest with you.
“Obviously, when Chicago showed their interest, it really got me interested, as well. You start looking at the team, the potential and where they’re at as a group. It really makes sense and seems like the perfect fit for me.”
Notes
As for Toews, Davidson said he would love to “bring him back” too, presumably on a one-day contract to ceremoniously retire as a Hawk. A team spokesperson clarified that hasn’t been discussed with Toews yet, so there aren’t set plans. But it is a possibility.
Kane admitted he enjoyed reading Bedard’s comments about “the excitement that he would have with me coming back,” but he also felt bad that speculation about his future hung over Bedard’s contract signing in any way.
Kane’s return has unsurprisingly been a big marketing win for the Hawks. Thursday marked the biggest jersey sales day for their team store since the launch of the black jerseys last fall.
Demand for season-ticket memberships has also surged. Renewals had already exceeded 90% entering the offseason, per a team spokesperson, and new membership sales have doubled compared to this time last year, experiencing another 15% increase this week thanks to Bedard and Kane’s contracts.