CHICAGO (AP) — Patrick Kane is returning to the city where he became a hockey legend. The Chicago Blackhawks announced Thursday that Kane has signed a two-year contract worth $16 million, complete with a full no-movement clause.
Kane, now 37 years old, originally spent more than 15 seasons with Chicago during which he became one of the most electrifying players in the NHL. During that time, he helped the Blackhawks capture three Stanley Cup championships and racked up 446 goals, 779 assists, and 1,225 points — numbers that place him among the franchise’s all-time leaders.
General manager Kyle Davidson expressed his enthusiasm for the reunion. “Day 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,” Davidson said in a statement. “He’s shown on countless occasions that he knows what it takes to win at the highest levels.”
Kane’s arrival gives the Blackhawks an additional offensive weapon, which will be especially valuable at the start of the season. Star center Connor Bedard, who is just 21 years old, underwent surgery on his left shoulder on July 8 and will miss time at the beginning of the year. Kane is expected to team up with Bedard once the young center is healthy enough to return.
The Blackhawks are still in the midst of a rebuilding phase. Last season, they finished 29-39-14, which was an 11-point improvement over the prior year. Despite that progress, Chicago has ranked 31st in the NHL for three consecutive seasons and has not made the playoffs since the league used an expanded postseason format following the pandemic-affected 2020 season.
While Kane is no longer the same force he was during his prime years in Chicago, he still showed he can produce at an elite level. Last season with the Detroit Red Wings, he put up 16 goals and 41 assists in 67 games. In 18 of his 19 NHL seasons, he has recorded at least 50 points.
Selected first overall in the 2007 draft, Kane passed Mike Modano in January to become the all-time NHL points leader among American-born players. He now has 508 career goals — fourth on that same U.S.-born list — and 1,400 total points across 1,369 regular-season games.
Kane’s first run with Chicago included Stanley Cup victories in 2010, 2013, and 2015. The team also reached the Western Conference Final in 2014 before falling to the Los Angeles Kings in a seven-game series. He won the Hart Trophy as the league’s Most Valuable Player in 2016 before being traded to the New York Rangers in February 2023. That same year, the Blackhawks won the draft lottery and selected Bedard with the top pick.
Bedard made no secret of his excitement about the possibility of Kane returning. “I can’t imagine his first game back at the (United Center), the reaction he’d get and how much juice that would bring to not only our team but our fans, as well,” Bedard said Monday. “That would be incredible to play with him and learn from him. Hopefully he decides to come back.”
