The Chicago Blackhawks have signed 37-year-old Patrick Kane to a two-year, $8 million AAV contract, bringing the franchise's second-leading point scorer back to Chicago.
The Chicago Blackhawks and Patrick Kane are reunited, as the three-time Stanley Cup winner is returning to the Windy City on a two-year, $8 million AAV deal.
Kane has taken his time to mull over this decision this off-season. Many insiders revealed that Kane’s decision was between the Blackhawks, where he spent the first 16 seasons of his NHL career, and the Buffalo Sabres, his hometown team.
Signing with the Sabres would have allowed him to compete for a Stanley Cup, but with the Blackhawks, he has the opportunity to end his story with Chicago the way he wants to.
Throughout this process, we've seen several players, GMs and insiders make comments.
Connor Bedard recently mentioned that it would be "incredible" if Kane signed with the Blackhawks. GM Kyle Davidson also went into length discussing Kane and a possible return.
But an interesting tidbit was that The Athletic's Mark Lazerus said that Kane was uninterested in signing with the Blackhawks if he was not going to be given the captaincy. Heading into the 2025-26 season, many are under the assumption that Bedard will be given the 'C' as the team hopes to become competitive again.
While no word has been revealed about who will be captain of the Original Six franchise, it's something to keep an eye out for.
Nonetheless, Kane will be a major help for the Blackhawks. He'll not only provide leadership and instil a champion's DNA in the Blackhawks' young core, but he'll also chip in offensively and possibly play alongside Bedard, Anton Frondell, or Frank Nazar.
Last season with the Detroit Red Wings, Kane poured in 16 goals and 57 points in 67 games. In his NHL career, Kane has scored 508 goals and 1,400 points in 1,369 games; of those totals, 446 goals and 1,125 points came in the 1,161 games he played with the Blackhawks.
Kane is a three-time Stanley Cup champion, a Conn Smythe Trophy winner, a Hart Trophy winner, a Ted Lindsay Trophy winner, an Art Ross Trophy winner, and a Calder Trophy winner.
A legend of Chicago, and it's only fitting that Kane returns to his old stomping grounds.
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