A Patrick Kane reunion with the Blackhawks has been talked about as if it’s all about one thing: putting him next to Connor Bedard. But that might not be the biggest reason Chicago would want him back.
Bedard is out after shoulder surgery and is expected to return around November, which shifts the conversation. For now, Kane’s clearest value may be what he can do for the young centers already in the pipeline - Frank Nazar, Anton Frondell and Nick Lardis among them. At 37, Kane still brings the kind of processing speed and playmaking touch that can sharpen the players around him.
The Athletic’s writers put it this way:
“The Blackhawks have several young players they’re hopeful will be major contributors this season, but they’re mostly inexperienced. Roman Kantserov, last season’s KHL-leading goal scorer, will be in his first NHL season.
Anton Frondell, the 2025 No. 3 pick, has played just 12 NHL games. There are plenty of others.
In a top-six role and on the top power play, Kane would be looked to produce and ease those players into the NHL.”
That’s the real appeal here: not just what Kane can still create, but what he can teach. The way he reads the ice, prepares, and has kept himself effective for so long could be as important as any points he adds.
There’s also been some discussion about whether Kane could fit on a line with Frondell and Tyler Bertuzzi, with Bertuzzi and Frondell handling more of the defensive work and puck retrieval while Kane runs the offense. That idea has its skeptics, though, and some argue it’s too much to ask a 19-year-old to cover for a winger who isn’t known for two-way play.
If Bedard and Kane do eventually share a line once Bedard is back, that could work too. As the source put it: “Once Bedard returns, Kane’s role would change. The puck wouldn’t go through him as often, but there would be an opportunity for him and Bedard to gain chemistry and develop a playing style together.”
Still, the on-ice fit is only part of the story. Kane would bring three championships’ worth of credibility, culture and a direct reminder of what winning in Chicago looks like. For a young group still trying to define itself, that may matter just as much as any line combination.
That’s a notable turn from where the Blackhawks stood before. GM Kyle Davidson had previously said the franchise had moved on from the idea of bringing Kane back. But situations change, and so do teams that haven’t met expectations.
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Connor Bedards latest absence has added another layer to a situation the Blackhawks were already going to have to manage carefully. His contract extension talks with Chicago have not yet reached the stage where the sides are getting into the numbers, and his recent injury has only slowed the process further. For a franchise built around its young center, every missed game matters, even if the bigger picture still points toward a long-term deal down the road.
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Patrik Laine is the kind of swing the Blackhawks can at least afford to consider, especially if the price stays in the low-risk range. A one-year prove-it deal would not ask Chicago to make a long-term commitment, but it would give the front office a chance to see whether Laines shot still plays at a premium level and whether his recent scoring touch can translate into a bigger role alongside the clubs young core.
The appeal is obvious in a lineup that could use another finisher around Connor Bedard, with Tyler Bertuzzi as a possible fit on the left side. The concern is just as clear, because Laines effort level and defensive habits have been questioned before, which means any move like this would come with a built-in test for Jeff Blashill and the staff. For a team trying to balance upside with accountability, it is the sort of decision that could look smart or messy depending on how closely the details are managed. [Read more 🡒]