Patrick Kane’s free agency ended where a lot of people around the league figured it might: back in Chicago. But the path there was anything but narrow. Before he signed a two-year deal on Thursday, Kane had drawn serious attention from around the NHL, with his agent, Pat Brisson, saying there were as many as 10 legitimate teams in the mix when free agency opened.
That number alone tells the story. Kane wasn’t just a sentimental fit for the Blackhawks; he was one of the biggest names available, and plenty of clubs took a hard look.
Scott Powers of The Athletic reported that Brisson didn’t want to name specific teams, but confirmed the level of interest. Among the clubs believed to have been involved were the Buffalo Sabres, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Edmonton Oilers.
Still, Chicago had something nobody else could offer. Kane’s history with the Blackhawks gave the team a pull that went beyond roster fit or contract terms.
He knew they wanted him back, and the decision came down to taking his time and sorting through what could be the final chapter of his NHL career. There are also signs that the reunion could come with a twist, with reports suggesting the Blackhawks are likely to name Kane captain, though that could still change.
Ryan Reaves is also looking at the possibility of one more run. The 39-year-old said he has spent the entire offseason training with the goal of playing another NHL season, and he believes he still has something to give. Reaves, who has built his career on physical play and presence in the room, put it plainly: “I just think I’ve got one more left in the tank,”
He’s also approaching a notable milestone. Reaves is 38 games away from 1,000 in his NHL career, a mark that would add another layer to a long run in the league. Whether a team sees enough value in the age-and-experience package is the question, but Reaves is making his case by staying ready.
John Tortorella, meanwhile, is not ready to step away from coaching. After the Vegas Golden Knights went in another direction following their Stanley Cup Final appearance, Tortorella said he still wants back behind the bench.
“Oh, I want to coach,” he said. He added: “I want to coach now.
I’m not sure if that happens, and that’s where I am in my career. But I wanted to coach that Vegas team.
I told (general manager Kelly McCrimmon) that.”
In this case, there’s no barrier to a new job. Tortorella can be contacted by teams, and he can take a role if one comes his way. He said he had hoped to “finish the job” with Vegas after coming that close to a championship, but the call to move on belonged to McCrimmon, who had Ryan Craig in mind early and let Tortorella know right away.
For now, Tortorella is still sorting through how it all played out. But the message is unmistakable: he’s available, and he’s waiting for the next team to call.
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Mitch Marners side also added a fresh layer to the ongoing conversation around his career path, with his agent revisiting how the winger was handled in Toronto and the scrutiny that came with it. In the same roundup, the Golden Knights had plenty of positive representation elsewhere, with 11 players landing in the NHLs Top 250 Fantasy Hockey list, another sign of just how much talent remains packed into the roster. [Read more 🡒]
Mitch Marner And Darren Ferris Drag Maple Leafs Drama Back Again
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What makes this round of debate linger is that it does not fit neatly into a blame game. The Leafs, Marner, Ferris and the fan base all have their own version of how things went sideways, and the latest comments have pushed a private issue back into the public conversation without offering any easy resolution. [Read more 🡒]
3 Goalies Golden Knights Fans Have Every Reason To Hate
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Brandon Bussi, Sergei Bobrovsky and Jake Oettinger each have a different kind of history against Vegas, which is part of what makes them worth watching whenever the matchup comes around again. Bobrovsky has been especially tough in regular-season meetings, while Oettinger has already logged more playoff games against the Golden Knights than any other goalie, with the series results splitting in a way that keeps the rivalry feeling unfinished. [Read more 🡒]