Connor Bedard has already locked in a long-term future with the Blackhawks, and now he’s looking at a possible reunion that would bring a familiar face back to Chicago.
Patrick Kane remains a free agent, and the chatter around him has centered on two paths: a return to the Blackhawks or a move to his hometown Buffalo Sabres. On Monday, Bedard was asked about the idea of Kane coming back, and he didn’t hide his excitement.
"I can't imagine his first game back at the UC, the reaction he would get and how much juice that would bring to not only our team but our fans, as well. That would be incredible to get to play with him and learn from him. Hopefully he decides to come back."
Kane, who turns 38 in November, is coming off a season in which he posted 16 goals and 41 assists for 57 points in 67 games with the Detroit Red Wings.
His career numbers still jump off the page: 1,400 points in 1,369 NHL games, with 508 goals and 892 assists.
Of course, most of that damage came in Chicago. The Blackhawks made Kane the No. 1 overall pick in the 2007 NHL Draft, and he went on to spend 16 seasons with the franchise, winning three Stanley Cups along the way.
In 1,161 games with the Blackhawks, Kane piled up 446 goals and 779 assists for 1,225 points. For most of his run in Chicago, he was one of the NHL’s defining stars.
He’s not that same player now, but Bedard’s comments make one thing clear: the idea of Kane back in a Blackhawks sweater still carries plenty of pull. And for Chicago’s newest centerpiece, the chance to share the ice with him would be a welcome bonus.
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Amani Hansberrys move to West Virginia fit the familiar pattern of a player following a familiar face, while Mark Smiths jump to Missouri landed with extra bite because of the rivalry angle. Adam Millers departure carried a different kind of weight, since he arrived with major expectations and was supposed to be a future centerpiece for Illinois before ending up at LSU. Luke Goodes transfer added another reminder that even the most promising homegrown pieces can wind up elsewhere, leaving Illinois to keep reworking the puzzle. [Read more 🡒]
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For a team that likes to lean on perimeter scoring, Fowlers profile makes plenty of sense because she can bring a different kind of balance underneath the basket. Illinois is also looking ahead to the frontcourt turnover that comes with Wallace eventually moving on, so landing a player with Fowlers size and defensive presence would help keep the rosters foundation intact even as the pieces around it change. [Read more 🡒]
Illinois May Be Closing In As Elite In-State Talent Surges
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Pettigrews stock has surged to the point where he was named the EYBL 16U MVP after leading the scoring at the event, a reminder of just how explosive the recruitment has become for one of the class most coveted players. The five-star guard has drawn a long list of Division I offers, and Illinois is clearly trying to stay in the thick of it as the summer circuit winds down and visits start to take shape. [Read more 🡒]