\u201cDay in and day out for 16 seasons, Patrick captivated the city of Chicago with his dazzling skill, creating some of the most memorable moments in Blackhawks history as he helped bring our storied franchise back to the pinnacle of our sport,\u201d general manager Kyle Davidson said in a statement. \u201cHe\u2019s shown on countless occasions that he knows what it takes to win at the highest levels.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Hawks drafted Kane with the No. 1 pick<\/a> in 2007, a year after they selected Jonathan Toews at No. 3. Kane would go on to become a franchise legend, totaling 1,225 points (446 goals, 779 assists) in 1,161 regular-season games with the Hawks and winning the 2008 Calder Trophy (rookie of the year), 2013 Conn Smythe Trophy (playoff MVP) and 2016 Hart Trophy (league MVP).<\/p>\n He spent the last three seasons with the Detroit Red Wings, and the sides had expressed mutual interest in signing Kane to another contract. But one \u2014 or both \u2014 had a change of heart, and Kane became an unrestricted free agent July 1.<\/p>\n Hall of Fame defenseman Chris Chelios told The Score on July 15 that he had spoken with Kane, who was deciding between the Hawks and Buffalo Sabres. In the end, the Buffalo, N.Y., native chose his former team over his hometown team.<\/p>\n The signing signals a change in mindset for Davidson, who had brushed off the idea of a reunion with Kane two years earlier.<\/p>\n \u201cHe did have a really good year (in Detroit and) I think we\u2019re all really happy to see that \u2026 (but) we made some really tough decisions on some longstanding players,\u201d Davidson said at the 2024 NHL draft combine. \u201cI don\u2019t foresee us going back on that.\u201d<\/p>\n Well, trying times tend to change plans. Kane will be the Hawks\u2019 top scoring threat while star center Connor Bedard heals from left shoulder surgery<\/a> after suffering an injury in early July while practicing in his hometown of Vancouver, British Columbia.<\/p>\n Kane has talked previously about Bedard\u2019s skill. Now the two might play side by side<\/a> upon the 21-year-old\u2019s return, likely in November.<\/p>\n \u201c(Bedard is) dangerous every time I\u2019m watching and every time he\u2019s on the ice,\u201d Kane said Nov. 8. \u201c(He\u2019s) someone that\u2019s going to help that franchise take the next step.\u201d<\/p>\n Bedard last week signed a five-year, $75 million contract extension<\/a>, and he\u2019ll have more help on the wing when he returns. Kane joins a group of wingers that includes Tyler Bertuzzi, Nick Lardis and rookie Roman Kantserov<\/a>.<\/p>\n While discussing his extension with reporters Monday, Bedard was asked about the possibility of Kane returning to Chicago.<\/p>\n \u201cObviously we\u2019d all be so excited to have a player like that (and) also a guy like that,\u201d Bedard said. \u201cI can\u2019t imagine his first game back at the (United Center), the reaction he\u2019d get and how much juice that would bring to not only our team but our fans.<\/p>\n \u201cYou talk about the legacy aspect of it, but he would make us a way better team (because) he\u2019s still an amazing player. \u2026 Hopefully he comes back and we can play together.\u201d<\/p>\n Toews, who retired last month<\/a> after a final season with the Winnipeg Jets, congratulated his former teammate on his return \u2014 even if he felt a little left out.<\/p>\n \u201cAwesome news, pretty cool to see him get the chance to go back,\u201d Toews told The Athletic via text message<\/a>. \u201cThe team is heading in the right direction and he\u2019ll bring such good experience and leadership for the young guys in that room.<\/p>\n \u201cWe were texting and as happy as I am for him, I told him I\u2019m straight up jealous that he\u2019s gonna get to play for the Hawks again.\u201d<\/p>\n After missing the playoffs in Kane\u2019s rookie season, the Hawks appeared in the postseason every year from 2009-2017. They won their first Stanley Cup in 49 years in 2010 \u2014 clinched in Game 6 with Kane\u2019s overtime goal in Philadelphia \u2014 and added two more banners in 2013 and 2015.<\/p>\n The good times started to fade when the Hawks missed the playoffs in 2018 after back-to-back first-round exits. They finished every season with fewer than 85 points\u00a0for the rest of Kane\u2019s first stint in Chicago.<\/p>\n After former Hawks GM Stan Bowman left amid the findings of the Bradley Aldrich sexual assault investigation<\/a> in 2021, Davidson took the reins and started a rebuild. The first big steps of the new era were to grant Kane\u2019s trade request<\/a> \u2014 sending him to the New York Rangers on Feb. 28, 2023 \u2014 and to forgo extending Toews\u2019 contract at the end of that season.<\/p>\n \u201cIt doesn\u2019t seem real right now that we traded Patrick Kane,\u201d Davidson said at the time. \u201cI think it was an impossibly difficult decision for (Kane) \u2014 he\u2019s been a Blackhawk for so long, had so many big moments and really grown up in Chicago. That\u2019s not easy to change at this point in your career.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"Blackhawks](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1785487933_248_CTC-L-15subtabmorrissey-3c-950p_S_181787071.jpg\")
Blackhawks No. 1 pick Patrick Kane tries on his sweater as he is introduced by general, at the United Center manager Dale Tallon to the media on June 25, 2007. (Charles Cherney\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n