Potential Homecoming: Does Patrick Kane Reunion Make Sense For Blackhawks?

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Now nearly two weeks removed from NHL free agency commencing on July 1, the vast majority of prominent names to test the market as unrestricted free agents have signed contracts with new clubs at this point.

Only a few notable players remain available, such as winger Anthony Mantha and defenseman Logan Stanley, while aging veterans well past their prime mostly fill up the market. Among that group are winger Vladimir Tarasenko, defenseman John Klingberg, goaltender Cam Talbot… and three-time former Stanley Cup champion Patrick Kane.

Kane, who turns 38 in November, has spent the last three seasons playing for the Detroit Red Wings, most recently recording 57 points (16G, 41A) in 67 games in 2025-26. “Showtime” signed a one-year contract in each of the past two summers to remain with the Red Wings, and it seemed somewhat likely that he’d do it again as a UFA in 2026. Kane was outspoken about his desire to return to Detroit during his exit interview in April, despite the team missing the playoffs because of another late-season collapse.

However, the two sides have yet to reach an extension, and the writing appears to be on the wall for Kane to depart the Motor City. Dylan Larkin’s trade request hanging over the team like a dark cloud figures to have only made Kane less enthused about coming back for 2026-27.

With Kane presumably seeking a new home for next season, there has been plenty of chatter recently surrounding a potential homecoming with the Chicago Blackhawks, the team he’ll be remembered playing for when hockey fans reflect upon his Hall of Fame career.

Over the weekend, Scott Powers and Mark Lazerus from The Athletic weighed in on Kane possibly rejoining the Blackhawks, while Matthew Fairburn made a case for him to sign with his hometown team, the Buffalo Sabres.

Additionally, David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period and NHL insider Frank Seravalli have added to the speculation by suggesting a reunion with the Blackhawks isn’t out of the cards. There hasn’t been any official confirmation that general manager Kyle Davidson and Kane have even discussed such an idea, but that hasn’t stopped fans from running rampid over the possibility.

We’re talking about arguably the most impactful player in Blackhawks’ franchise history, and a Mount Rushmore level Chicago sports icon. It’s understandable that these rumors would get everyone excited, especially with the recent devastating news regarding superstar Connor Bedard undergoing shoulder surgery.

With Kane and the Blackhawks possibly considering a reunion, let’s dive into a case for both sides of the coin. Why the Blackhawks should sign Kane, and why they shouldn’t.

Case For Blackhawks To Sign Kane​

As Powers and Lazarus mentioned in their column, bringing Kane back certainly wouldn’t hurt jersey or ticket sales, not that the Blackhawks are desperate for either. Even with the on-ice struggles over the past decade, attendance at the United Center hasn’t ever been much of an issue.

On a more pressing note, while Davidson made a big splash in the trade market by acquiring Bowen Byram from the Buffalo Sabres this summer, he once again has failed to add a proven top-six forward to support the young players next season. There’s an internal belief that the additions of Anton Frondell and Roman Kantserov, plus the development of players like Nick Lardis, Oliver Moore, and Ryan Greene, will help the Blackhawks offense be more potent next season. But to truly ensure that will be the case, it would have been wise for Davidson to bring in a proven commodity or two.

Well, he seems to now have that opportunity with Kane, should the fourth leading scorer among all active players truly want to return to Chicago. Even with Kane on the verge of his 20th NHL season, he’s still a consistent offensive producer at this stage of his career and would be an upgrade at wing on the first or second line. In each of the last two years with Detroit, he’s scored at nearly a 70-point pace over the course of 82 games, totaling 116 points (37G, 79A) in 139 appearances. He also remains relatively reliable on the power play, with 17 assists on the man advantage in 2024-25 and 2025-26.

Even if Kane isn’t quite as sharp on his skates as he once was, he still possesses elite playmaking skills and thinks the game as well as anyone in the league. His hockey IQ, vision, and play recognition haven’t slowed down one bit with his age, and those traits would figure to mesh well with Bedard, considering he plays the game in a similar, offensive-minded manner. Bedard has gone three years without a high-caliber linemate next to him, and signing Kane would finally put that to bed.

With Bedard set to miss the opening month of the regular season, adding Kane could also help aid young players like Frondell, Kantserov, Lardis, and Frank Nazar, who will be leaned on heavily without the franchise’s cornerstone in September and October. If the Blackhawks want to become more competitive next year, they’ll need to survive in the standings for however long Bedard will be out. Bringing back Kane can’t hurt that cause.

Case Against Blackhawks Signing Kane​

Here comes the less fun part of the story. Yes, everything mentioned above is true, but there are reasons to be wary about signing Kane, too.

First and foremost, Stan Bowman and John McDonough are no longer around, and this doesn’t seem like a move Davidson’s front office is itching to make. One of the pivotal reasons Kane was traded to the New York Rangers in 2023 was because Davidson wanted to allow the next era of Blackhawks to take over the reigns of the rebuild and not live in anyones shadow. Keeping Kane around then would have made that nearly impossible. While the organization is in a different spot, that thought process would still remain true by bringing Kane back now. Too many fans would be thinking about the past, instead of the future.

There’s also concerns about Kane’s own durability, as he’s missed 57 combined games over the last three seasons. No spring chicken anymore, is he someone that the coaching staff can rely upon to suit up on a nightly basis? With over 1,500 regular season and postseason games under his belt, one has to wonder how much gas is left in the tank.

Kane’s fit with the rest of the forward group would be interesting, as he’s another undersized player without a physical presence on the ice. A case could be made that the Blackhawks already have too many players of that mold up front, and a better addition would be someone with a size and skill combination. There’s also the fact that Kane is among the least-involved defensive players in the entire league, and that style might not mesh well with head coach Jeff Blashill’s system. As much as he’s beloved, Kane doesn’t exactly play a winning brand of hockey.

Lastly, with the clock ticking on Kane’s playing days, does he truly want to spent what could be his final season playing for a team that has no shot at winning the ultimate prize? Kane hasn’t even sniffed a fourth Stanley Cup ring since winning his last in 2015, over a decade ago at this point. From a competitor’s standpoint, Chicago feels like a tough sell without being a legit contender, even if it’s a place where Kane has countless cherished memories.

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