Patrick Kane embraces Blackhawk’s home-opener

Things have come full circle recently for Patrick Kane. As a free agent this past summer, the 37-year-old had to make a decision on where he wanted to play moving forward. He’s been pretty up front about his final decision being between Buffalo and Chicago. But he chose Chicago, and now he’s set to suit up in the red, white and black on Tuesday (Oct. 6) for his first home game at the United Center since Feb. 22, 2023.

Just how did he get here?! And what’s it gonna be like when the big moment actually arrives?

Kane returns to Chicago

Obviously, when word got out that Kane signed with the Blackhawks over his hometown Sabres in late July, it was like a city-wide holiday in Chicagoland. Who would’ve ever thought this would happen?! When Blackhawk’s general manager moved Kane to the New York Rangers in Feb. 2023, it seemed like the end of an era. Davidson said he wanted to “clear the deck” for the youngsters, and part of dealing Kane was what made it possible for the organization to draft Connor Bedard in 2023.

After that, Bedard and a rebuilding team became the new future of the Blackhawks. Kane with his three Stanley Cups, and all those accolades of 16 super successful seasons with the Blackhawks, seemed like a thing of the past.

Until all of the sudden it wasn’t. It was reality that Kane was coming back to the organization where he was drafted, and where he had become a legend in his own right. How did this happen, that seemingly two eras of Blackhawk’s hockey had collided?!

“I think when Patrick departed a couple years ago, we were just in a totally different spot as a franchise, said Davidson at Kane’s introductory press conference. “We were much more at the outset of this whole project, and now that we've got some of these draft picks that have entered the NHL, established themselves in the NHL, obviously continue to grow within the NHL. But I just felt from an organizational standpoint and a roster standpoint that the time was right. What he provides, and again, be very clear that we're bringing him in to contribute to the hockey team here. This is not, like you mentioned, the nostalgia and the return is a very nice aspect of it, but it's not the core reason. We're bringing him in to make our team better, which we firmly believe that he does do, and so we're ready to continue to take steps, and believe that he's an important piece to help that.”

Kane reiterated a similar sentiment about why he ultimately chose Chicago, his second home for 16 years, over his hometown of Buffalo. “…most importantly, it was just about coming to a team where I think I can fit in well, a team that's on the rise, a team that's looking to make some big steps forward and trying to make the playoffs. Like I talked about, all that other stuff, I think all that's great, but that's not why I'm here. That's not the story, right? It's to come back, help this team win, help his team get in the playoffs.”

Kane has always been one to embrace playing with younger players; he says it makes him feel young again. Plus, he has a very unassuming presence, so any concern over the youngsters being in awe of the veteran were quickly put to rest.

“I think he handles himself so well,” said Landon Slaggert during training camp. “You walk in, you see him, and for sure there's that awe factor. But he does such a good job of making himself approachable, and just chiming in to different conversations, just to let the guys know that he's one of the guys and he wants to be a part of this group. And it's really impressive to see.”

The whirlwind of the first week of the season

Fast forward to the first week of the 2026-27 campaign. Kane and the Blackhawks started the season on the road, playing three playoff caliber teams who had the energy of it being their respective home-openers. Buffalo was their third stop, and their third loss in a row. It was a tough start for the Blackhawks, who are also missing their franchise cornerstone in Bedard due to offseason shoulder surgery.

Buffalo is also where Kane hails from. He had to field numerous questions about why he didn’t choose the Sabres. He admitted it was a tough decision. “It pretty much came down to Buffalo and Chicago, and there was a lot of back and forth. Obviously there would be a lot of great reasons to come here (to Buffalo). Not just because I'm from here, but just the team they have and where they're going as an organization, and how I thought I would kind of fit in with the way they play, right? So yeah, it was definitely enticing.”

However, all Blackhawk’s fans really care about it that he’s calling Buffalo “they”, since he ultimately chose Chicago. He's fitting in well so far, having contributed one goal and playing on the top line and the top power play unit.

Home-opener should be special

All this will culminate on Tuesday, when Kane pulls on the Blackhawk’s sweater and heads out onto the Uniter Center ice. He didn’t play in either of the home preseason games, so their home-opener versus the St. Louis Blues will be his first time back. He even joked on Monday after practice that he hadn’t been to the United Center yet and didn’t even know where his stall was.

Kane also talked about coming to the UC as a visitor with the Detroit Red Wings last season. “I mean, I remember coming back last year, and I was on the ice for the national anthem, and I was just so shocked at how loud it was, and I was thinking to myself, ‘Is this how loud it is every game? Did I take it for granted when I was here?’ But it felt so loud when I was out there. So I'm sure it'll be the same type of feeling going out there for the first home game and being back. I think it'll be pretty electric.”

Ah, yes. It should definitely be electric. The Blackhawks are off to a rough start to their season, but nights like this are what give fans, players and coaches alike the hope that good things will come.

“It'll be awesome,” said head coach Jeff Blashill. “Obviously, what Patrick's been for this organization, what he's been a part of, the run that group went on. And he was obviously a huge, huge, huge piece of it. And then for him to come back and still be a really good player and get a chance to wear the Blackhawk uniform again. It's a special thing, and I think the night will be special for any of us involved. But with that also said, we certainly want to use that energy. As he has mentioned multiple times, he didn't come back for a victory lap. He wants to win hockey games. And obviously, we got to bear down and find a way to win a game tomorrow.”

Hopefully the Blackhawks can corral that energy, and “Showtime” and the team can put together a win in front of the home crowd. But either way, we should remember what Kane represents to this city, and why it’s so easy to get behind this Blackhawk’s legend. Part of what makes him special is that he's still just a kid at heart. Kane was asked recently to what he credits his longevity, now in his 20th NHL season.

“I think the main thing is just love for the game. Just still love playing, still really enjoy it. I've always kind of said being on the ice and being in the rink is kind of my sanctuary. You get out there and you feel like all is right in the world when you're playing hockey.”

The Blackhawks have a long season ahead of them, and it’s anybody’s guess how it will turn out in the long run. But Tuesday night will be a night to appreciate Kane’s return, to reminisce about past glory, and for everything to be right with the world.

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