Jeff Blashill excited for what Patrick Kane brings on and off the ice

The Chicago Blackhawks have had an eventful offseason. From the Bowen Byram trade and contract extension to Connor Bedard’s injury to Patrick Kane’s return, there has been no shortage of news this summer. Kane signing a two-year deal with the Blackhawks re-energized the fan base and got the team excited.

"When Patrick departed a couple years ago, we were in a totally different spot as a franchise,” general manager Kyle Davidson said. “We were much more at the outset of this whole project. Now that we’ve got some of these draft picks that have entered and established themselves in the NHL - the time was right with what he provides."

Earlier this week, I had the opportunity to speak with Jeff Blashill at the Helping Hands Network golf outing, as he stopped by to talk to us on the CHGO Blackhawks Podcast.

Kane Brings More Than Just Talent

As we know, Kane is one of the smartest players in the NHL. He has always been a student of the game. He can tell you about every other player in the league, and has a wealth of knowledge built up over his 19-year NHL career. I asked Blashill what having a mind like Kane’s added to this young mix.

“It’s huge, to be honest with you,” he said. “The talent of all the guys we brought in is important, but the type of people they are is more important in a lot of ways – given the fact that they have that level of talent. Kaner brings in a swagger. He brings in a confidence. He’s done it. He knows what it takes to reach where we want to get to. He’s a great competitor, but also a great person.”

We know the talent is still there for Kane. Is he the Hart Trophy winner from 2016? No, but he’s still a very productive player. In his three seasons with the Detroit Red Wings, he had 57 goals and 163 points in 189 games. If he plays with Connor Bedard, which he’s expected to do, he’ll be the best winger the Blackhawks’ young star has ever been on a line with.

A New Mentor in the Room

When Kane was reintroduced to the Chicago media last month, he made it clear that his return to the Blackhawks wasn’t going to be a farewell tour. He wants to win, and he wants help this young team reach the heights they are capable of.

"Obviously the story is great, coming back to Chicago and being a Blackhawk again,” he said. " But most importantly, it was about coming to a team where I think I can fit in well, a team that's on the rise. I want to come back and make a difference, help the team win."

Blashill got to see Kane’s mentorship in person a few years ago. He’s excited to add him to a young group that is starting to figure it out. This is a big year for this team, and having a three-time champion to help them navigate the lows and highs of an 84-game schedule is a huge luxury.

“At this stage of his career, he wants to be a mentor to young players,” Blashill said. “I’ve seen him do that firsthand. I was over at the Worlds with him, and he took a very young, draft-eligible Jack Hughes under his wing and helped him along. I think he can do the same thing for a lot of our guys. But with that being said, he’s coming back for more than that. He wants to come back and be an impact player on a winning hockey team. As he and I have talked about, it’s not a victory lap by any stretch. It’s him coming in to help us win, and I believe he can do that.”

If the results equal the excitement level of Blackhawks fans, then Kane will be worth every penny and then some!

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