Patrick Kane — the top-scoring American-born player in NHL history — is still a free agent, and Chicago Blackhawks star Connor Bedard thinks it’s time to bring Showtime back to Chi-Town.
The 37-year-old spent 15 seasons and change in Chicago after they drafted him first overall in the 2007 Draft, and went on to help the franchise win Stanley Cups in 2010, 2013, and 2015.
They traded him to the New York Rangers in 2023, which means he and Bedard have never played together, but with Kane on the open market, there’s a real chance it could happen.
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“I don’t know what I can say to persuade his decision, but obviously we’d all be so excited to have a player like that, but also a guy like that,” Bedard said, per NHL.com. “I can’t imagine his first game back at the (United Center with the Blackhawks), the reaction he’d get and how much juice that would bring to not only our team but our fans, as well. That would be incredible to play with him and learn from him.”
This comes as former Blackhawks defenseman Chris Chelios claimed on a Chicago sports radio show that Kane is down to either Chicago or Buffalo.
This is a good time to go to Buffalo, seeing as they just returned to the playoffs. Plus, Kane is from Buffalo, and he could do the same thing as his long-time Blackhawks running mate Jonathan Toews did with the Winnipeg Jets, and wrap up his career with his hometown team.
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However, they don’t need him as the Blackhawks do.
Bedard is already going to miss the start of the season after undergoing shoulder surgery. If the Blackhawks want any prayer of keeping up with the murderers’ row that is the Central Division, they need to start strong and be in the mix when Bedard comes back.
How better to do that than by adding a veteran presence who can still bring it offensively.
While Kane isn’t producing like he was at his peak, he had 57 points (16G, 41A) in 67 games.
For a team that was second-to-last in goals for last season, it’s probably worth bringing him in if he’s up for it.
Chicago’s projected cap space is $14.31 million at the moment, which would be more than plenty to bring in Kane, who made $3,000,000 last season on a one-year deal with the Red Wings.
Of course, the decision will be his, and if both the Sabres and Blackhawks want him, will he opt for the more likely playoff ticket, or bring things full circle and take on a bigger role within the team?
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