Jeff Blashill doesn’t need a lecture on what winning looks like in Chicago. He’s seeing it up close, and he’s making sure his young Blackhawks do too.
That message matters in a city where sports success gets remembered, celebrated, and felt loudly. The Blackhawks have gone through several losing seasons, announced their rebuild after the 2021-22 season, and have spent the years since trying to build the right foundation through drafting and development. Now those high picks and organizational investments are beginning to show up in the everyday lineup.
Blashill pointed to the way Chicago fans embrace players who helped deliver championships, and he used Jonathan Toews as a clear example. In his view, Toews is so revered because he won the Stanley Cup three times, not simply because of what he did as an individual.
Patrick Kane has offered the same kind of reminder. When he returned to Chicago as a member of the Detroit Red Wings a handful of seasons ago, the reaction was intense. At the home opener on Tuesday night, the welcome was thunderous again.
"Patrick deserves that," head coach Jeff Blashill said. "What he and his teammates were able to accomplish during his first stint in Chicago, and the love that the fans show him, is such a special and cool thing.
It's a great thing for our guys to understand. Kane would have been well thought of because of the points, but the reason he is adored is that they won."
Blashill said that lesson extends beyond the Blackhawks, because every Chicago pro team feeds off the same thing: winning. He described the city as a place where sports are part of everyday life, and even mentioned being in a bar the night before the Journey concert and seeing the White Sox on.
"What winning does in this city is special," Blashill continued. "I was in a bar last night before the Journey concert, and the White Sox were on - it's such a great sports town.
When you can win here, it's such a special town to be a part of. Obviously, that was an example with Kane."
For a roster that includes young players such as Connor Bedard, Anton Frondell, and Frank Nazar, the point is impossible to miss. They’ve watched the response legends receive when they come back, whether it’s the centennial celebrations from the 2025-26 season, Patrick Kane’s big night, or returns from players like Jonathan Toews and Niklas Hjalmarsson.
Blashill said he has already addressed that with the group.
"I've definitely talked [to the team] about it," Blashill said about previous Blackhawks legends getting incredible responses when they return. "We've had these unreal examples of how cool and special it is to be a part of a winning team here in Chicago and what we're all striving for.
This group is going to. There is zero doubt in my mind."
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Patrick Kane's Return Could Shape The Blackhawks' Next Core
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The early signs have been encouraging because Kane is not simply leading by example from across the locker room. He has been active with younger forwards and prospects, including hands-on teaching moments with Kantserov on the finer points of positioning and reading the ice. For a team that needs its prospects to keep progressing while navigating the usual growing pains, that kind of presence can matter just as much as points on the scoreboard. [Read more 🡒]
Blackhawks Need Their Young Core To Deliver Again On Long Island
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For Chicago, the focus is on its young core again, especially Frank Nazar and Anton Frondell, two players who have already shown they can fit into this kind of game. The Blackhawks need those younger pieces to keep driving the attack and to make the most of chances on the road, because the next step for this group is not just flashes of skill but the kind of consistency that starts to change how these games feel late. [Read more 🡒]
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The Islanders provide a different kind of test, with a 1-2-0 start that has been uneven but still includes plenty of established talent. Bo Horvat is expected to be in the lineup, and Ilya Sorokin gives New York a stabilizing presence in goal, while the Blackhawks will again be trying to see how their emerging core handles a tougher road assignment without letting one good result soften the larger challenge ahead. [Read more 🡒]