The Blackhawks haven’t shut the door on a Patrick Kane reunion, and the idea comes with a simple pitch: he can still help.
Reports say Kane is set to test free agency, with his hometown Buffalo Sabres expected to be in the mix and a return to Chicago also being discussed. For a Blackhawks team trying to build around Connor Bedard, the fit is easy to see.
Kane’s game still plays. Even after hip surgery in 2023, he put up 163 points in 187 games with the Red Wings.
In his latest season in Detroit, he finished with 16 goals and 41 assists, and he was over a point per game in the 25 games after the Olympic break. His 41 assists ranked fourth on the team, while linemate and former Blackhawks teammate Alex Debrincat led Detroit with 41 goals.
That kind of playmaking could matter in Chicago. Bedard has never had a teammate break 65 points in his three seasons, and adding Kane to the top six could give him another level of support offensively.
There’s also the leadership angle. After the Blackhawks moved veterans Jason Dickinson, Connor Murphy, and captain Nick Foligno at the Trade Deadline, the team finished 6-11-4 and repeatedly gave away late leads. The inexperience showed.
Kane would bring a voice that understands what winning in Chicago looks like. He has already spoken highly of Bedard, and as the other first overall pick in Blackhawks history, he could serve as a useful mentor while Bedard settles into being the face of the franchise.
The money side works, too. Bowen Byram’s six-year extension does not begin until next season, and PuckPedia lists the Blackhawks with just over $36 million in cap space. Bedard’s extension is still a priority for GM Kyle Davidson, but Chicago has room to make other moves.
Kane’s last three deals in Detroit were all one-year contracts. His most recent one carried a $3 million cap hit and could climb to $4 million with performance bonuses. That type of contract would land in the same neighborhood as the ones previously given to Foligno or Taylor Hall, with little long-term damage to the cap.
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Patrick Kane Just Put Blackhawks Fans In A Brutal Spot
Patrick Kanes free-agency decision is putting Blackhawks fans in an uncomfortable place, because the door to a reunion is still cracked open even as his next stop looks more likely to come from a contender somewhere else. Chicago has added pieces this summer, but the franchise is still working through a rebuild that is not expected to reach true championship territory for a few more years, which makes any Kane conversation feel equal parts emotional and practical.
For the Blackhawks, the appeal is obvious: Kane would instantly change the look of a young lineup and give the club a proven veteran presence. The problem is that his own priorities point in a different direction, and a return to Chicago is far from assured. So the question hanging over the team is not whether Kane would matter, but whether chasing the nostalgia would fit the timeline the Blackhawks have already committed to. [Read more 🡒]
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For a team that was expected to add more scoring help outside the organization, the uncertainty is notable. Instead, Chicago appears headed into training camp with the answer still to be earned, and Davidson made clear the decision will be shaped by what happens there and in the early games, leaving Bedards most important forward partner very much unresolved for now. [Read more 🡒]
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The Blackhawks did extend a qualifying offer, so the door remains open for Del Mastro to come back and try to carve out a larger role. Thats really the crux of it for a rebuilding team: he may get another season to show he can take a step, but if the progress does not come, Chicago will have a difficult decision to make on where he fits in the organizations plans. [Read more 🡒]