After his storied tenure with the Blackhawks ended via a trade to the Rangers in 2023, star winger Patrick Kane may have the opportunity to return to Chicago in free agency this summer. The team’s front office will likely hold internal discussions over the next few weeks about re-signing him, reports Scott Powers of The Athletic.
Kane is slated to hit the UFA market this summer after completing the one-year, $2.75MM contract he signed with the Red Wings in November after recovering from hip resurfacing surgery. He would likely be open to a return if offered by general manager Kyle Davidson, Powers said.
A three-time Stanley Cup winner, Kane looked revitalized in Detroit after a difficult, injury-plagued season split between Chicago and New York. The 35-year-old put up 20 goals, 27 assists, 47 points and a -5 rating in 50 contests after returning to play, increasing his points per game average to 0.94 after putting up 0.78 in 2022-23.
Kane’s possession metrics were below average (48.4 CF%, 49.2 xGF% at even strength), but that’s nothing new. He’s been a decisively below-average player defensively ever since his last championship with Chicago in 2015. While the Wings narrowly missed the playoffs, he helped them breach the 90-point mark for the first time since 2016. Their 278 goals for were also their most in a season since advancing to the Stanley Cup Final in 2009.
His return to the form you’d expect from him as he enters his late 30s is impressive, considering the previous track record of players returning from hip resurfacing procedures. The surgery effectively ended the careers of once-top-flight talents Nicklas Bäckström, Ed Jovanovski and Ryan Kesler.
Powers said the strong relationship between Kane and the Blackhawks organization remains intact and that Davidson “made sure Kane’s departure was as smooth as possible” when trading him to the Rangers last season. But if the organization does decide to bring him back, he’d likely end his career there, Powers said. If he intends on playing longer than the team thinks he’d be useful to their rebuild, Powers believes that will likely push Chicago away from re-signing him.
During Kane’s initial 16-year tenure in the Windy City, he scored 446 goals and 779 assists for 1,225 points in 1,161 games. The 2007 first-overall pick ranks second in franchise all-time scoring behind Hall-of-Famer Stan Mikita, although first is likely out of reach for Kane as he trails him by 242 points.
Image courtesy of USA Today Sports.
It would be interesting to see how Kaner would work with Bedard. But I think that ship sailed when we traded him to NYR. Doubt they bring him back unless he takes a huge discount
doesn’t need to take a Huge discount because the Hawks have over $30M to play with, but yes i think he’s staying in Detroit to have a chance to make the playoffs, or even Buffalo to play in his hometown since Buffalo just may make the playoffs next season
Pretty sure Kane would rule that out. The BlackHawks are terrible.
The article literally says “He would likely be open to a return if offered by general manager Kyle Davidson, Powers said.”
The guy has already won 3 cups. Maybe he’s like to go back to the place he called home for 15 years where he is a living legend and be a mentor to some younger guys.
I mean why did Jones, Foligno, and Johnson come here? Money, sure but they also knew the Hawks were not going to be winning any time soon. Foligno seems to have really embraced the mentor role.
He should either take the most financially lucrative deal for himself and ride into the sunset or keep going for another Stanley Cup and take less money. The Blackhawks wouldn’t make any sense.
According to Josh the Hawks are 11 million under the floor. They need someone who can score. I’m guessing he still has his house and family in Chicago. What’s not to like? It’s not like a true contender who is probably up against the Cap can offer more. He’s won 3 Cups, Probably not a huge factor for him at this stage as being comfortable. Davidson made sure everything he wanted he got on the way out. What does he really want? I guess we’ll find out.
It’s a completely different organization and team now. Yea same jersey, city, arena, and fans but that’s it. It would be like everyone but you getting fired from a place you worked at and thinking it’s going to be remotely similar.
I also don’t agree with Josh that Demidov is the for sure #2 pick. Nothing against him but with all Russians right now with the political climate the , Will he sign, Will he come, Will he play in Russia scenario the Flyers are going through right now. I don’t trust Russia as far as I can throw them and who’s to say all of the sudden Russia decides nobody is coming anymore. And before you say that can’t happen I just want to say Putin is a big Hockey fan and as long as he’s alive I wouldn’t make any Russian the #2 pick and risk losing it all. If you’re saying right now I’m prejudiced then you’d be right. The other guys like Leshunov are already here attending college and much more likely to stay than a guy who never came here. I’d rather have a sure thing at 2 than have to watch my pick play for Russia in the KHL.
On February 25, 2024 Patrick Kane received his second standing ovation of the day from the crowd. Blackhawks management must have taken notice and should resign him!
Let me add that Patrick Kane could setup Bedard as he did for Debrincat. I believe that Kane will help Bedard’s development instead of limiting his development. So please sign him Kyle Davidson for 2 years at $4.5 million as you did for others.
Excellent comment!
Bring back Kaner!
Setup what? Missing the playoffs for the next 3 years? Kane is a competitor, competitors don’t want to end their career losing and going through the motions to “mentor” people.
Yes please! Let be showtime again.
If the two sides can agree on money, the Hawks should do it. He’d be a significant upgrade from Taylor Hall, who I hope will be back next year. The other big factor here is, in all the years he was here, we never heard a bit of trouble from him in “the room.”
Patrick Kanes top priority is resigning with the Red Wings and not testing the free agent market. Sorry chicago should know what you had before you lost it.