Blackhawks: Patrick Kane needs to stay as an alternate captain

For most of the 2019-20 NHL season, Patrick Kane was one of the Chicago Blackhawks’ alternate captains. This should be the same next season.

For many years, the three captains in Chicago were Jonathan Toews (C), Duncan Keith (A), and Patrick Sharp (A). Once Sharp left to play for the Dallas Stars, the Chicago Blackhawks promoted Brent Seabrook to be their second alternate captain.

Patrick Kane is the next man up when it comes to alternate captains in Chicago. Kane normally wears the “A” on his sweater if Toews, Keith, or Seabrook don’t play that game. We’ve seen a lot of that during the last few seasons, with most of it coming this past season.

Kane should have the alternate captain logo on his sweater next season. Not only is he the best player on the team, but he is also one of the most clutch players in team history. I understand having Toews as the captain, it fits him perfectly. Keith and Seabrook are two perfect candidates for alternate captains too, I’m not discounting their importance to the team.

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I just think the Blackhawks should swap Kane and Seabrook, with Kane being the full-time third alternate captain. Many fans agree with that statement too.

Kane has been an alternate captain on many ‘Team USA’ teams, while now being the sole captain for ‘Team USA’ during their summer games.

Kane recently spoke on being named an alternate captain in Chicago after Seabrook’s injury. Here’s what he had to say:

"“I’d rather not wear it on my jersey and have ‘Seabs wear it, to be honest with you, and have him in the lineup. But to wear a letter for the Blackhawks, an organization that I’ve been a part of for 13 years now and has done some great things, an Original Six franchise, definitely means something. I feel like I’m part of that leadership group with ‘Duncs, ‘Seabs, and ‘Tazer, just those are the guys that wear the letters and deservingly so. I’d rather have ‘Seabs in the lineup and not wear it, but it’s definitely still a big honor.”"

Kane would rather have Seabrook in the lineup than wear the “A” on his sweater. That is something all fans should respect. The Blackhawks have missed Seabrook, as he is still a consistent leader on the team.

Still, the Blackhawks should go in another direction next season. Kane should have been given the “A” on his jersey back in 2015-16 when Sharp left Chicago. I don’t know the full reason why it wasn’t given to him, nor will I speculate anything.

We will see what happens with the alternate captain role in Chicago next season. Right now, I’m just hoping for a return to the 2019-20 season, as we still wait for the resume of the NHL pause.