Is a Patrick Kane and Blackhawks reunion possible? Here’s what Kyle Davidson said, originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago
The Chicago Blackhawks moved on from Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews because they wanted to clean up the deck and let the new core grow into itself organically without being in the shadows of a few legends.
Whether you agree with the decision or not, that’s the Blackhawks’ thinking behind it.
Well, Kane is a pending unrestricted free agent. He would like a term on his next contract, and his hip held up well this season with the Detroit Red Wings. The Blackhawks are one of the few teams that can afford to give Kane a multi-year extension and a higher cap hit. And who hasn’t dreamed of Connor Bedard and Kane playing together on the same line?
“Yeah, I mean, you know what, it’s great for Chicago, it’s great for the league to have a player of his caliber in that market,” Kane told NBC Sports Chicago in November 2023 when asked to the Blackhawks winning the 2023 NHL Draft. lottery and landing Bedard. “It’s obviously happy for the organization and also for Connor to go to a city like that. It’s a great place to play. He’s already doing well, I’m sure he’ll get even better over time will be, so hopefully they will be able to build something there.”
While Kane himself has not completely ruled out a return, he acknowledged that the team is heading in a different direction with the new young core.
“Yeah, I mean, I never really knew, right?” Kane told NBC Sports Chicago in November when asked if he thought a return to Chicago was possible. “Especially after that first pick, I thought, ‘Okay, maybe they’ll try to come back, like Tazer or myself.’ But it seems like they’re going in a little bit of a different direction now so yeah, I haven’t heard from them but I think they’re trying to rebuild a little bit and get their young players in there and give them a chance . It is what it is.”
Is it possible the Blackhawks are considering bringing back Kane? General manager Kyle Davidson seemed to pour cold water on the possibility of a reunion with No. 88 this offseason.
“He had a really good year,” Davidson told NBC Sports Chicago at the NHL Scouting Combine. “I think we’re all very happy to see that after having hip surgery last season. That was great to see. I think we’ve made some really tough decisions on some players who have been in the game for a long time.” market. I don’t expect us to return to that.” “
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