Chris Chelios has the inside track on Patrick Kane's options

The idea of Patrick Kane returning to the Chicago Blackhawks has been gaining a lot of steam over the past few weeks. What started with some insiders like Elliotte Friedman and Chris Johnston thinking out loud has turned into something with some serious credibility. Now, one of the greatest players in franchise history has the inside track on where Kane might end up this season.

Straight from the Horse’s Mouth

While on the Score 670’s Mully and Haugh Show on Wednesday morning, Chris Chelios said he recently spoke with Kane and let the cat out of the bag on what his options are for the upcoming season.

“I’m not going to lie to you guys; it’s down to Buffalo and Chicago,” Chelios said. “I know that because, obviously, I spoke to him. It’s a tough decision for him; it really is. Whether to go home and make it easy on his parents and family, and finish like Tazer tried to do. Or he comes back, and in my opinion, he’s a Blackhawk. The Blackhawks see how tough it is to make the playoffs. With the absence of Connor at the beginning of the season, how great would that be? He’s so beloved in Chicago. I’m hoping he leans that way. I think he’s going to make his decision pretty quick now.”

The Sabres make all the sense in the world. Besides being Kane’s hometown, they are coming off their first playoff appearance in 14 years and need someone to replace the offense they lost with Alex Tuch’s departure.

On the other hand, the Blackhawks aren’t exactly a good fit for a guy looking to win a Stanley Cup. But a return to Chicago would be huge. They will need someone to help keep them afloat until Connor Bedard returns from his shoulder injury. Plus, Kane would take a lot of pressure off rookies Anton Frondell and Roman Kantserov while they adjust to life in the NHL.

“It would be a big boost to the Blackhawks,” Chelios said. “He’s still got some good gas left in him. I think he’s got two or three years left in him. He had a good finish with Detroit, so let’s keep our fingers crossed. That will be great news if he signs with the Hawks.”

The Blackhawks can pay Kane more than the Sabers for a one-year deal. It’s a move that would create a much-needed positive buzz among the fans. It made sense to move on from Kane in 2023, as the franchise was hoping to have a new face. Bedard is that new face, and there is no doubt that the Blackhawks are his team now. Bringing Kane back for this season would work, which is not something I would have thought possible even a few months ago.

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