Bringing Back Patrick Kane Would be a Mixed Bag for the Blackhawks

The Chicago Blackhawks are currently in the middle of one of their more exciting offseasons in a while. They traded away the fourth overall pick to acquire Bowen Byram from the Buffalo Sabres and signed him to a six-year extension, had a solid NHL Draft, and then some unfortunate news came out that Connor Bedard will be out for four months after getting surgery on his left shoulder. The Blackhawks could do one more thing, though, and that’s take a good look at bringing back Patrick Kane.

Kane’s Current Free Agency Situation

Kane, 37 years old, currently remains unsigned and is an unrestricted free agent (UFA). Four teams have checked in on Kane: his last team, the Detroit Red Wings, the Minnesota Wild, the Montreal Canadiens, and the Toronto Maple Leafs. However, two destinations stand out the most: a return to the Blackhawks and finally going to his hometown team, the Sabres. 

Kane played 16 seasons with the Blackhawks, winning three Stanley Cups and the Hart, Art Ross, and Conn Smythe Trophies and the Ted Lindsay Award in his time with the Blackhawks. He was traded to the New York Rangers as one last effort to tank by Kyle Davidson, and then in the last two seasons, he spent them with the Red Wings. 

With the Red Wings last season, Kane had 16 goals and 41 assists for 57 points in 67 games. Despite Detroit just missing out on a playoff spot once again, he showed that he still has it and can still play a solid top-six role-based game. With the market and the players who are currently still available to sign, he’s one of the hottest commodities out there. He won’t take up too much cap space, as he’ll probably get around $1.5 to $2 million on a one-year contract. 

Positives and Negatives of the Blackhawks Bringing Back Kane 

If “part two” with Kane and the Blackhawks happens, it would be a massive morale boost, even if temporary, and it’s needed with the recent news about Bedard. Kane is still heavily popular and beloved for what he did in Chicago, and everyone would love to get out their No. 88 sweaters again and have him as a Blackhawk (and buy new ones when the Hometown Remix jerseys come out). It would be great financially for the organization. 

Lineup-wise, Kane would make an immediate impact as well out on the ice. He’d be inserted into the top-six as a winger and offer support for Frank Nazar and Anton Frondell, who work on becoming solidified centers. Kane, while not having as much pep in his step as he did in his prime, is still so smart and would be able to help all of the young players around him. He’ll also be able to assist the second power-play unit, maybe even the first unit, until Bedard comes back. When Bedard comes back, his role will be minimized, but not by a lot; most likely just a demotion on the power play and a move to the third line. Kane would still have a big voice in the locker room.

The Blackhawks aren’t going to be competing for anything this season. If Kane comes back to Chicago, it’ll be solely based on the fact that he wants to have a bigger role than he did in Detroit and return home one more time. Kane would be the leader of the team at the start of the season, and his veteran presence would be greatly needed, as that’s very few and far between with such a heavy youth presence on the team right now.

The move will also come with some baggage, though. Davidson has shut the door on a return to the past, and this could be seen as a nostalgia act in another rough time in the rebuild. The organization as a whole is moving forward, as well, with Davidson just finding his “guy” in Byram and players starting to break through. Is the step back in time really worth it? Plus, he’ll take away a roster spot from a young gun either at the beginning of the season or at the midway mark, depending on where the Blackhawks are in the standings. 

Overall, Kane coming in would have a positive and somewhat negative effect; it all depends on what direction Davidson and his camp want to head towards, and of course, Kane as well.