And guess who assisted it? His former Blackhawks linemate Alex DeBrincat, of course.

Kane, 35, ended his long-awaited free agency decision, signing with the Red Wings on Nov. 28. He signed a one-year, prorated deal worth $2.75 million.

Kane underwent hip resurfacing surgery on June 1 and was put on a four-to-six-month timetable. He was expected to decide American Thanksgiving, and he did just that.

He will make his return to the United Center on Feb. 25, when the Blackhawks take on the Red Wings. The Blackhawks will also retire Chris Chelios’ jersey that night.

Click here to follow the Blackhawks Talk Podcast.

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde told reporters Wednesday that he expects the newly signed veteran to play Thursday night at home against the San Jose Sharks.

The three-time Stanley Cup champion and former Hart Trophy winner signed a one-year $2.75 million deal with the Red Wings on Nov. 28, almost six months after undergoing hip resurfacing surgery.

“The season ended right around May 1, and it took us a good month to figure out what to do,” Kane told NBC Sports Chicago’s Blackhawks Insider Charlie Roumeliotis. “We wanted to make sure we were confident in the decision we were going to go. Decided to go through with the surgery on June 1. It was pretty much the best option for me.” 

Kane is shooting to join Ed Jovanovski and Nicklas Backstrom as NHL players to come back from the specialized surgery. The operation involves dislocating the upper end of the thighbone, trimming it, capping it, and removing cartilage before putting it back in place.

“I could’ve maybe done a labrum repair and a scope, but with the wear and tear in the hip, it would’ve maybe given me a year or a year and a half, and I could’ve potentially even had more pain,” Kane said. “It was the right move to do the resurfacing.”

If he returns to the ice on Thursday, this would be Kane’s first time playing with former linemate and teammate Alex DeBrincat since the 2021-22 season.

Click here to follow the Blackhawks Talk Podcast.

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

After signing a one-year contract with the Detroit Red Wings last week, the three-time Stanley Cup champion and former Hart Trophy winner joined the Red Wings’ broadcast booth Saturday for a second-period hit with Ken Daniels and Mickey Redmond.

DeBrincat cashed in on a one-timer on the power play while Kane was in the booth, giving his close friend the opportunity to call his 200th NHL goal live on air.

“Great shot by DeBrincat,” Kane said. “He doesn’t miss many of those, that’s for sure.”

Kane, 35, and DeBrincat were a dynamic duo on the Blackhawks’ front line from 2017 to 2022. While teammates in Chicago, DeBrincat recorded two seasons with over 75 points, and Kane averaged over 85 points per season.

DeBrincat, 25, signed a four-year deal with the Red Wings this offseason worth $31.5 million after playing 82 games for the Senators in 2022-23.

Kane is still rehabbing from offseason hip surgery, and is expected to make his Red Wings debut in the month of December.

Click here to follow the Blackhawks Talk Podcast.

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

Unfortunately, Kane will not play on Thursday when the Blackhawks head to Detroit for the first time this season. But he’s looking forward to playing them at the United Center on Feb. 25 — the same night Chris Chelios will have his jersey hung in the rafters.

“Obviously, you have New York and Chicago on the schedule. It would’ve been nice to play those games,” Kane said. “But I think it’ll be a pretty special night in Chicago in late February there when [Chris] Chelios’ jersey is going up. Hopefully, we make it up with that one.”

On the subject of Chelios — who also played for the Blackhawks before moving to the Red Wings — Kane said he spoke with the legend two weeks ago.

According to Kane, they didn’t talk about the rivalry as much as you’d expect.

“I talked to him a few times,” Kane said of Chelios. “I just kind of asked him about the city, the situation, the organization, and how he liked it here. It never really came up too much about the Blackhawks-Red Wings rivalry, to be honest with you.”

Kane’s move to Detroit was as equally unsurprising as it was surprising. Detroit has long been rumored to be an interest of Kane’s. But there were plenty of teams in the running, including the Toronto Maple Leafs, Florida Panthers, New York Rangers, Buffalo Sabres and the Colorado Avalanche.

Alas, he made the move to the Blackhawks’ most notorious rival, dating back to the 1980s. Kane said he believes that the rivalry has “faded” a bit. He also claimed the Blackhawks, in his day, admired the Red Wings.

“It was always a team we were striving to be,” Kane said. “Even organizationally, it was always a team we were looking up to and striving to be. It’s an incredible franchise. Incredible organization. I think the jersey is beautiful, too, even if you play against them and you hate ’em there for a while.”

There’s the knife twist.

Kane’s interest in Detroit involved several factors. He isn’t unfamiliar with the area, having moved to Detroit when he was a freshman in high school. He played hockey in Ann Arbor, too.

Certainly, reuniting with Alex DeBrincat — who signed a three-year deal with the Red Wings in the offseason — played a factor. And the Red Wings’ third-place standing in the Atlantic Division helps check the competitive box that Kane desired, but not strongly.

It’s a weird sight seeing Kane don Detroit’s red instead of the Blackhawks’. He said it was a strange feeling to put on the jersey at the team’s morning skate.

But for the right opportunity, Kane pushed the rivalry to the side.

“For the right situation, sometimes you put that stuff to the side a bit,” Kane said. “I loved my time in Chicago. I loved everything about being a Blackhawk. But sometimes you move on to different things and you look for different opportunities and situations. This seemed like the right one for me.”

Click here to follow the Blackhawks Talk Podcast.

Kane, 35, underwent hip resurfacing surgery on June 1 and was put on a four-to-six-month timetable. He was expected to make a decision around American Thanksgiving, and he’s done just that.

Kane reunites with his old linemate and close friend Alex DeBrincat, who was traded to Detroit from Ottawa over the offseason. The two of them were magic together in Chicago and they’ll try to recreate that with the Red Wings.

The Chicago Blackhawks play in Detroit on Thursday night, but it’s unclear whether or not Kane will be slotted into the lineup right away. The two teams play in Chicago on Feb. 25, which is Chris Chelios’ jersey retirement night.

Click here to follow the Blackhawks Talk Podcast.

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

The former Blackhawks star remains a free agent over a month into the regular season as he recovers from a hip resurfacing surgery.

There has been plenty of speculation that Kane could end up with the Florida Panthers as they try to make it back to the Stanley Cup Final. Friedman said he believes Kane has collected a lot of information on the up-and-coming Red Wings, as well. A move to Detroit would mean a reunion for Kane and his former Blackhawks linemate Alex DeBrincat.

However Friedman said it’s been tough to get a clear read on Kane’s intentions.

“Tougher than an escape room to figure out where he’s going,” Friedman said.

Still, Friedman expects a decision soon.

“I do believe he’s down to a couple of teams.”

Most believe the door is closed for Kane to come back to Chicago since they’re at the beginning of a rebuild.

Kane is one of the most accomplished players in Blackhawks history. He ranks second in points scored (1,225), second in assists (779), third in goals (446) and third in games played (1,161). He was a key cog in the team’s three Stanley Cup championships.

Click here to follow the Under Center Podcast.

“We’re looking at around the next week or two as to where he ends up potentially going and which team he’s going to join,” Pagnotta said. “… Around mid-November is when he’d like to narrow down his choices and then make decisions in or around the Thanksgiving period.”

Pagnotta said Kane and his team are looking for a multi-year contract with a suitor. Now is the time when teams interested in Kane will need to start making adjustments to their cap space to inhale Kane. Teams like the New York Rangers and Colorado Avalanche will need to maneuver their respective books.

Here are the latest teams Kane’s been attached to, provided by reports from The Athletic’s Chris Johnston:

New York Rangers

It’s the team Kane allowed the Blackhawks to trade him to in the first place last season. And although a first-round playoff exit to the New Jersey Devils stings, Kane has familiarity with the Rangers.

One caveat returning to Broadway, however, is cap space. The Rangers would have to maneuver their roster to bring in Kane, who’s looking for a contending team, as well as one that can sign him long-term.

Florida Panthers

The Panthers check the competitive box, as they just competed against the Las Vegas Golden Knights for the Stanley Cup.

According to Johnston, Kane has an established relationship with Bill Zito, the team’s general manager. The two were together for the 2018 IIHF World Championship with Team USA.

Emily Kaplan previously reported the Panthers are “interested” in Kane, too.

Detroit Red Wings

It’s the one that’ll sting Blackhawks fans the most.

However, for Kane, joining the Red Wings means reuniting with one of his favorite linemates — Alex DeBrincat. He inked a three-year deal in Detroit this past offseason and already has nine goals this season.

The question is — does Kane believe the Red Wings are ready to compete? They haven’t been to the playoffs since the 2015-16 season, and Kane’s chasing for higher than that. They’re currently third in the Atlantic Division, poised for a playoff berth if the season ended today.

Buffalo Sabres

Another team familiar to Kane, the Sabres offer something no other team can — playing in his hometown.

Like the Rangers, Buffalo offers the convenience of Kane’s family being able to attend with ease. That was a tidbit mentioned last season for Kane when he was traded to New York.

The Sabres aren’t currently in the wild card. But, rare to other teams — besides the Red Wings — the Sabres have cap space. They have the third most in the NHL this season. Hence, they could sign Kane long-term, no questions asked.

Toronto Maple Leafs

And finally, the newest installment to the Patrick Kane rumor mill — the Maple Leafs.

At the top of the Eastern Conference wild card, the Leafs possess some attractive offerings. Johnston mentioned Kane has been rehabbing from his offseason hip surgery in Toronto.

Plus, according to Johnston, Auston Matthews — a fellow American hockey player — grew up a huge fan of Kaner. That duo would be lethal.

Where will Kane end up? The answer is coming within a matter of a couple of weeks.

Click here to follow the Blackhawks Talk Podcast.

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

According to Johnston, Kane and his agent, Pat Brisson, “have started the process of speaking directly to those in the running for his services.”

“It’s kind of like the interview period we used to have for July 1,” Brisson said to Pierre LeBrun on Tuesday. “That’s what we’re starting to do here.”

Here are the teams Johnston mentions could be fits for Kane:

New York Rangers

It’s the team Kane allowed the Blackhawks to trade him to in the first place last season. And although a first-round playoff exit to the New Jersey Devils stings, Kane has familiarity with the Rangers.

One caveat returning to Broadway, however, is cap space. The Rangers would have to maneuver their roster to bring in Kane, who’s looking for a contending team, as well as one that can sign him long-term.

Florida Panthers

The Panthers check the competitive box, as they just competed against the Las Vegas Golden Knights for the Stanley Cup.

According to Johnston, Kane has an established relationship with Bill Zito, the team’s general manager. The two were together for the 2018 IIHF World Championship with Team USA.

Emily Kaplan previously reported the Panthers are “interested” in Kane, too.

Detroit Red Wings

It’s the one that’ll sting Blackhawks fans the most.

However, for Kane, joining the Red Wings means reuniting with one of his favorite linemates — Alex DeBrincat. He inked a three-year deal in Detroit this past offseason and already has nine goals this season.

The question is — does Kane believe the Red Wings are ready to compete? They haven’t been to the playoffs since the 2015-16 season, and Kane’s chasing for higher than that. They’re currently third in the Atlantic Division, poised for a playoff berth if the season ended today.

Buffalo Sabres

Another team familiar to Kane, the Sabres offer something no other team can — playing in his hometown.

Like the Rangers, Buffalo offers the convenience of Kane’s family being able to attend with ease. That was a tidbit mentioned last season for Kane when he was traded to New York.

The Sabres aren’t currently in the wild card. But, rare to other teams — besides the Red Wings — the Sabres have cap space. They have the third most in the NHL this season. Hence, they could sign Kane long-term, no questions asked.

Toronto Maple Leafs

And finally, the newest installment to the Patrick Kane rumor mill — the Maple Leafs.

At the top of the Eastern Conference wild card, the Leafs possess some attractive offerings. Johnston mentioned Kane has been rehabbing from his offseason hip surgery in Toronto.

Plus, according to Johnston, Auston Matthews — a fellow American hockey player — grew up a huge fan of Kaner. That duo would be lethal.

Where will Kane end up? The answer is coming relatively soon.

Click here to follow the Blackhawks Talk Podcast.

Everyone around the hockey universe is curious to see where the showtime winger lands after being traded from the Blackhawks to the New York Rangers last season.

Kane is recovering from the hip surgery he underwent early in the offseason. However, he’s recovered in supernatural speed. Three weeks after his surgery, he was doing skating drills. His agency has been posting workout videos of Kane.

ESPN’s Emily Kaplan provided an update on Kaner’s situation during the first intermission of Thursday’s Blackhawks-Avalanche game. She mentioned the Florida Panthers and Dallas Stars are “interested” in Kane. Kaplan also threw out the Avalanche as a potential fit for Kane.

As for the Blackhawks, she said the “door is closed for now.” Kane and the Blackhawks ended on good terms last season after they traded him to the Rangers. But because the Hawks are rebuilding, a reunion isn’t likely at this time between Kane and his native team.

Kaplan dignified the three most likely teams Kane could land this season. On the Daily Faceoff, Frank Seravalli dished out the same three teams “to keep an eye on” in the running for Kane. He and Kaplan pointed out the Buffalo Sabres, New York Rangers and Detroit Red Wings.

The first is no surprise. Kane is a Buffalo native. He already displayed his affinity for New York by waiving his no-trade clause for the Rangers last season. It was an attractive luxury for Kane’s family to attend games close by last season. He could have the same perk again.

A small part of me speculates Kane could be attracted to a challenge. To bolster his career résumé, he might find it intriguing to try to revamp a losing organization or one on the rise. The Sabres are just that. They haven’t made the playoffs since the 2010-11 season.

Here’s Seravalli’s take on the Rangers.

“The New York Rangers are also a team that is paying attention to Kane, and for good reason,” Seravalli said. “You saw what they had to give up last year to get him; they knew at the time he wasn’t fully healthy. It didn’t quite come together like it probably should have, but I think they were really impressed with the way he entered and was a leader.

“They were just kind of hoping, wishing, and praying he’d be at the Kane 88 showtime level we are used to. I think in the back of his mind, he’s also certainly intrigued by what it would be like to go back there. Maybe sort of finally put that piece back together.”

And then there was one. The one that stings Blackhawks fans to their core. The Detroit Red Wings. Seravalli said people in Kane’s camp have noticed he’s keeping an eye on the Red Wings.

Why?

Well, one of his favorite linemates — Alex DeBrincat — inked a three-year deal with the Red Wings in the offseason. It’d be difficult to pass on an opportunity to join a team with one of your favorite past teammates leading the bunch.

The Red Wings, similar to the Sabres, haven’t been to the playoffs since the 2015-16 season. If Kane is looking for a team on the rise with a dire need of improvement, the Red Wings fit that description.

Where will Kane end up?

Click here to follow the Blackhawks Talk Podcast.

He looked phenomenal and unfazed, as the winger is still rehabbing from hip surgery he underwent over the summer.

Just a few weeks after his surgery, Kane was already up-and-moving. Another video surfaced of Kane doing skating drills to a lesser degree of difficulty than those in the video. Still, his resilience is impressive.

Kane is putting his skills on display for all NHL teams to see in part because he’s a free agent. He spent the back half of last season with the New York Rangers after the Blackhawks traded him. They failed to make it out of the first round of the playoffs, leaving Kane unfulfilled of his goal to win a Stanley Cup and on a mission to grab another.

Rumor has it Kane wouldn’t mind teaming up with his former Blackhawk teammate, Alex DeBrincat, in Detroit where Kane’s former linemate signed this offseason.

Where will Kane end up this offseason?

Click here to follow the Blackhawks Talk Podcast.

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

Admittedly, it was a little weird.

“It feels different,” Connor Murphy said. “Those guys have been such a staple here in this city for so long and it was such a normal to come to the rink and see Kane and Toews and watch them and follow them and try to play off of their leadership, whether it’s off the ice and how they set the tone for us and habits we have or whether it’s on the ice and trying to play and complement their strengths and them leading wins and getting goals at the big times.”

Murphy is entering his seventh season with the Blackhawks, and he only knows a Chicago team that had Kane and Toews on it. It will probably take some time getting used to not seeing them around.

“You build strong friendships and those are guys you get to know and I think just on your down times or ups and downs in the season, they’re guys that you have deep talks with and learn off each other,” Murphy said. “Any time you get to play with Hall of Famers, it’s just a blessing every day. They’re definitely missed by everyone.”

At the same time, Murphy is excited about the thought of a new era, which will be led by No. 1 overall pick Connor Bedard. It’s an opportunity to build something special from the ground level.

“It’s a cool thing, a transition to have a couple of young players coming in now that are really strong and it gives you, I guess, a little bit of that taste of what it was like years ago when Toews and Kane were coming in as young guys,” Murphy said. “It’s just fun to see new faces and to have that excitement and hope that everyone has that talent and potential to create something big.”

Click here to follow the Blackhawks Talk Podcast.

The former Blackhawks winger is a free agent this offseason. He played the back half of last season with the New York Rangers, who were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs.

But now, rumor has it he might be interested in joining a rival of his former Blackhawks team.

“Watch for Patrick Kane to sign with the Detroit Red Wings,” the Daily Herald’s John Dietz tweeted. “Someone who knows Kane very well said Kane told him he wanted to follow Alex DeBrincat if/when he was able. Of course, there has to be mutual interest, so we’ll see if Detroit extends an olive branch …”

DeBrincat, 25, signed a four-year deal with the Red Wings this offseason worth $31.5 million. He played 82 games with the Ottawa Senators, who the Blackhawks traded him to the offseason prior, and scored 66 points. He notched 27 goals and 39 assists while with the Senators.

Kane and DeBrincat were a dynamic duo on the Hawks’ front line since the latter entered the league in 2017. DeBrincat recorded two seasons with over 75 points during his time with the Hawks. Kane averaged over 85 points per season during the years DeBrincat donned a Blackhawks sweater.

The Red Wings haven’t made the playoffs since the 2015-16 season, when they were eliminated in the first round. That season marked the first after the Hawks’ final Stanley Cup of their historic championship run in the 2010s.

The Red Wings’ unsuccessful state might be, ironically, a lure for Kane, who’s looking to win another Stanley Cup before calling it a career. If he can revitalize the Red Wings, who have gone seven seasons without a playoff berth, he would liven and solidify his legacy as one of, if not the best, American hockey players in the sport’s history.

Kane is currently rehabbing from hip surgery he underwent over the offseason. However, his recovery has been remarkably fast. Kane was videoed doing shooting and skating drills three weeks after he went under the knife.

On the status of his injury, Kane said this: “Could I come back early? Yeah, probably,” Kane told reporters recently. “It’s a lot better than I was last year.”

Where will Kane land this offseason?

Click here to follow the Blackhawks Talk Podcast.

That’s what Carlos Vale, a 31-year-old Blackhawks fan in Brazil, told NBC Sports Chicago after showing off his remarkable new tattoo of Patrick Kane on Reddit.

The stunning portrait was done by two different local tattoo artists in Brazil.

“I started the project with Roberto Bryan, a terrific local tattooist who specializes in realistic tattoos,” Vale said. “He got, like, 70 percent of the job done. The rest was finished by another award-winning tattooist, Francisco Neto – another local artist. The whole process took around 16 hours over four session. I could not be happier with the result. Both artists nailed it.”

Vale became a Blackhawks fan in the late 2000s when the team drafted Kane and Jonathan Toews, and said that while hockey isn’t a popular sport among Brazilians, there’s still a good number of fans in the region.

“Since it’s not a popular sport here, it’s kind of hard to find products like jerseys, sticks, and souvenirs and stuff,” Vale said. “But we always find ways to follow our beloved teams, which for me is the Hawks.”

Vale attributed his love for the sport to Patrick Kane.

“For me, he’s the best American-born hockey player of all time, and it’s not even close,” he said. “I had the idea to make a tattoo to honor him because he has been so important to me in so many aspects. I felt a real need to do this for all the Hawks fans around the world because there’re no borders for hockey fans.”

Vale plans on tattooing a whole mural of iconic Blackhawks players on his arm.

“Mikita, Hull, Esposito, Toews and maybe Bedard?” he said. “I really hope the kid succeeds.”

Click here to follow the Blackhawks Talk Podcast.

Wirtz inherited ownership of the Blackhawks after his father Bill died in late September 2007. It was three months after Patrick Kane was drafted with the No. 1 overall pick and one week before he made his NHL debut with the Blackhawks ahead of his rookie season.

On Wednesday morning, Kane released a statement on Twitter following the death of Wirtz:

“Not only was Rocky Wirtz a great man and humble to the core, he was extremely loyal and generous to everyone, but especially to us players,” Kane wrote. “He always made sure everything was first class for us. That mattered to him, just like winning and just like his family. My sympathy to his wife Marilyn, to his son Danny, and the entire Wirtz and Blackhawks family.”

Click here to follow the Blackhawks Talk Podcast.

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

2:18 – Chicago fans are already buzzing about the Blackhawks

6:14 – The latest on Jonathan Toews

13:29 – Patrick Kane not expected to sign with team until 2023-24 season starts, agent tells ESPN

19:30 – Projecting Blackhawks’ 2023-24 Opening Night roster

43:05 – Thoughts on the Alex DeBrincat trade to Detroit

Click here to follow the Blackhawks Talk Podcast.

“There’s no rush,” Brisson said. “This is one I’m very comfortable with. I’m very calm. You could offer me a one-year deal or a two-year deal right now at $7 million or so. I don’t even know if I want to entertain it, because it’s not what he needs. We’ll see, at the right time, how he feels, where he’s at, and then we’ll take it from there.”

Kane, 34, is a pending unrestricted free agent for the first time in his career. He underwent hip resurfacing surgery on June 1 and was originally put on a four-to-six-month timetable, although he appears to already be ahead of schedule.

It’s a unique path for Kane to take in free agency but it’s an approach he’s not unfamiliar with. At the trade deadline, Kane wanted to hold out as long as possible to see which team was the best fit and had the best chance of winning a Stanley Cup. Ultimately, he decided on the New York Rangers.

The main focus for Kane right now is to get back to feeling 100%. Once he is, then the three-time Stanley Cup champion and former Blackhawks Hart Trophy winner will choose his spot.

“There’s going to be plenty of teams doing good, plenty of teams doing bad,” Brisson said. “There are going to be teams using [long-term injured reserve]. We’ll pick where we want to go. I don’t think too many teams will turn him down.”

Don’t be surprised if Kane’s next contract is performance-heavy with a lower base salary to make the finances work in a flat cap world.

Click here to follow the Blackhawks Talk Podcast.

The Blackhawks hope Bedard will be a points machine for years to come, but it’s far too early to tell what his legacy will be in Chicago. So now, we’re taking a look at Blackhawks first-round draft picks who have already cemented their spot in franchise history. And if the Blackhawks were to carve the faces of four first-rounders somewhere inside the United Center, here’s who would make the cut.

DOUG WILSON – 1977

New fans of the Blackhawks may know Duncan Keith as the best blue-liner in franchise history, but before Keith was hoisting Norris Trophies, there was Wilson. Bobby Orr is often credited with being the first offensive defenseman in the late 60s, but Wilson wasn’t far behind. Wilson score 50+ points in nine of his 14 seasons with the Blackhawks, including an incredible 85-point (39G, 46A) campaign in 1981. That was the year Wilson won his Norris Trophy. Wilson’s 779 points with the team rank most among all defensemen in franchise history. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2020.

DENIS SAVARD – 1980

Before there was Showtime with Patrick Kane, there was the Spin-o-rama with Savard. Kane passed Savard on most Blackhawks leaderboards, but Savard still owns the record for most assists/game with an incredible 0.82 rate. He ranks third in total assists (719), fourth in points (1,096) and fifth in goals (377). Savard has another footnote in big Blackhawks history, since he was the man sent to Montreal in the trade that brought Chris Chelios to Chicago. After retirement, Savard returned to the Blackhawks as a coach, but his tenure didn’t last long. He only coached for 147 games before he was replaced by Joel Quenneville. Savard was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2000.

JONATHAN TOEWS – 2006

Toews began his career with a bang by scoring a goal on the first shot in his first game of his NHL career. That started a 10-game point streak to start his career, which was the second-longest in NHL history at the time. Captain Serious was never the prolific scorer as his counterpart, Kane, but he was the yin to Kane’s yang. While Kane was more of an offensive phenom, Toews was an incredible two-way player and was often tasked with shutting down an opponent’s top player on defense. Toews also saved some of his best magic for the playoffs, like his incredible five-point performance against the Canucks in Game 4 of the 2010 Western Conference Semi-Finals or his two goals in 72 seconds (including a ridiculous shot from the goal line) to force OT against the Ducks in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals. Toews won the Conn Smythe Award for the Blackhawks’ first Stanley Cup victory of their recent three-Cup run in 2010 and the Selke Trophy in 2013.

PATRICK KANE – 2007

For generations it seemed no one would come close to challenging Stan Mikita for the “Best Blackhawks Player of All-Time” honor, but Kane is that guy. Showtime was known for his incredible goal-scoring ability, but many consider him to be an even better passer and playmaker. Kane beat out Toews for the Calder Trophy in 2008, and he broke barriers as the first American player to win the Hart Trophy and Art Ross Trophy in 2015. In 2020, he also became the youngest American player to hit the 1,000 point threshold at 31 years and 61 days old. Most importantly, Kane scored the magical goal that nobody saw to clinch the Blackhawks’ first Stanley Cup during their run in the 2010s. Kane won the Conn Smythe Trophy in 2013.

Click here to follow the Blackhawks Talk Podcast.

The former Chicago Blackhawk, now free agent, had hip surgery three weeks ago. Presently, he’s shooting pucks and skating with assistance. Check out these videos of Kane’s insane recovery speed.

The surgery handed Kane an original timeline of 4-to-6 weeks out of action. From these videos, it appears Kane will smash that timeline.

Kane’s agent, Pat Brisson, told Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman that Kane, 34, “wants to play for a long time.” Kane’s doctors confirmed his hip operation should give him the opportunity to prolong his career.

Kane played 15 full seasons with the Blackhawks before being traded to the New York Rangers near the NHL trade deadline last season. With the Rangers, he scored five goals and assisted seven goals in 19 regular season games in New York. In the playoffs, he recorded six points in seven games before the Rangers were eliminated.

He is an unrestricted free agent this offseason. It’s unknown what destinations Kane could end up, but it’s unlikely the future Hall of Famer will land with the Blackhawks.

Click here to follow the Blackhawks Talk Podcast.

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

“He’s coming down to this BioSteel camp with some of the best players in the league and I would say he was one of the guys that really stuck out,” Kane said. “You never really know, those young kids, how they’re going to do, especially coming in with a bunch of NHL players that have had success, a bunch of guys that have experience, have been in the league a long time and he seemed to me that he was very confident.

“I think there was one play in camp, he had a 2-on-1 with [Connor] McDavid and he looked off McDavid and took a shot. *Laughs* We were all kind of laughing on the bench. But yeah, I think the thing with him is he moves so well laterally. Everyone talks about his shot and his ability to shoot from different angles and off a different foot each time but man, the way he moves laterally is what gives him that space to be able to do that, so pretty impressive.”

Kane didn’t seem to have any concerns about whether or not Bedard would live up to the expectations when he gets to the NHL.

“I think everyone’s kind of wondering how is he going to do at the next level, how’s he going to be,” Kane said. “From what I saw, I think it’s all right there, he’s going to be special.”

On Saturday, I asked Bedard what his thoughts were about meeting Kane and what he was able to take away from being around a former No. 1 overall pick who shares a similar skillset as Bedard and has accomplished seemingly all there is to accomplish in the NHL.

“It was good,” Bedard said. “Obviously one of the best players ever. For me to get the opportunity to be with a guy like him and obviously, like you said, ask some questions and be a sponge around him and all the other guys there, I think that’s great for me to be able to learn from guys like him.”

Bedard said he didn’t think too much about the size aspect — both of them are roughly the same height and weight, although Bedard is much thicker than Kane was as a teenager — and more-so took mental notes on how Kane used his creativity on the ice.

“Just watching him and seeing the way he plays and some of the plays he makes, his head’s up at all times, and just kind of what he did out there and maybe ask him a few questions about stuff,” Bedard said. “You learn a lot when you’re with guys like that.”

Click here to follow the Blackhawks Talk Podcast.

1:00 – Vegas takes 2-0 lead in Stanley Cup Final; does Florida have a chance to come back?

13:20 – Connor Bedard says on TNT that he’d be “incredibly honored” if he went No. 1 to Chicago

22:10 – Patrick Kane out 4-6 months after undergoing hip surgery; what does his future hold?

35:25 – Why a Kane, Blackhawks reunion is unlikely

Click here to follow the Blackhawks Talk Podcast.

Brisson told Friedman that Kane “wants to play for a long time” and doctors are optimistic that will happen.

Kane has been dealing with a recurring hip injury for years, and he acknowledged in his exit interviews with the New York Rangers that he wasn’t 100 percent during the playoffs. If healthy, Kane believes he would have made a bigger impact and helped lead them beyond the first round.

“I look at that series and I know it’s like, if I felt a little bit better, I can like, help us win that series, you know?” Kane said. “It’s almost like disappointing and depressing in a way, but that’s just kind of how I feel about it.”

Kane is set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. Now that he’s had a surgical operation, teams might be more interested in taking a shot on what a healthy Kane could bring to the table.