Patrick Kane settling into new team, new life with Blackhawks

Patrick Kane made a big gamble when he decided to return to the Chicago Blackhawks. After all, this is an organization that’s been in the basement now for a number of years now. Rebuilds take time, and fans and pundits alike are getting impatient with the lack of progress.

Kane knew all this. But when it came down to either the Buffalo Sabres or the Blackhawks, he eventually made the decision to go with the team and the city that was his second home for 16 years. The place where he’d won three Stanley Cups and become a legend in his own right.

But it’s not just a victory tour. “It's not like I'm just coming back home to ride off into the sunset,” said Kane at his introductory press conference. “I want to be a big player here and help the team win.”

Now it’s official. Training camp and the preseason are over, and Kane’s momentous return to the United Center is in the books. The Blackhawks are almost 10 contests into the 2026-27 campaign, and settling into the everyday grind of a long and grueling 84-game season. How is Kane feeling about all this? I caught up with him recently to discuss how he’s faring.

On the progression of the team

As we all know, the Blackhawks got off to a rough start. They had three tough road games to begin the season, and were without the services of their cornerstone and captain, Connor Bedard. Through six games, they had a dismal 1-5-0 record.

But then Bedard returned, and things started to fall into place. Obviously, the Blackhawks are a much better team with Bedard in the lineup, and it showed right away with a 5-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Oct. 13. I asked Kane if that was a little bit more what he had in mind when he chose to return to the Blackhawks. That elicited a big smile and a chuckle from the 37-year-old veteran.

“Yeah, it was fun. Nice to get a win, obviously, but I think there was some moments within the game where we had a lot of chances, a lot of chemistry, some things going on. So it was fun to play that way and just try to keep building on it.”

In this contest, the new-look top line of Roman Kantserov, Bedard and Kane combined for two goals while on the ice together; one on the power play and one during 5-on-5 play. Hopefully it was a harbinger of good things to come.

Kane on linemates Bedard & Kantserov

Even though it was the first time Kane and Bedard had actually played in a game together, it seemed like they found some instant chemistry. I wondered if that was because they just think the same, or if Kane had spent time studying Bedard’s game. Kane replied,

“Yeah, maybe a little bit of both. I mean, to be honest with you, I've watched him, but I don't think I've watched him enough to know like how he plays and what his tendencies are. So I think it's just sometimes you have instant chemistry, sometimes you got to build it up. I think for us we're two offensive-minded players, so if we could focus on getting the puck as much as possible and being good defensively, then you just kind of let your offensive instincts take over. And yeah, try not to think too much about who you're playing with or what's going on out there. Just kind of trust the other guy, and obviously he makes so many plays and creates so much just out of nothing. That's one thing I know. So fun to play with a guy like that.”

Kane talked about how you have to trust your instincts, but hopefully as time goes on they’ll get to know each other’s tendencies a little bit more. He expanded, “The other thing with him, he's got a lot of speed up the middle of the ice, which can kind of push defenders back. So I think that can help a lot from my game to come in late, try to find some of the later guys coming in the second and third wave of the attack, and try to create that way too.”

Kantserov is obviously the least known commodity of this trio, having come over this season from Russia and the KHL. But Kane was extremely complimentary of the 22-year-old.

“Yeah, he's been awesome. He's been a pleasant surprise. I think he's obviously good offensively, but he's such a hard worker. He's hard on the puck. He can make plays. He can make passes. He's got great offensive instincts. Got the instincts for the game in general. So I think he's just going to get better and better.”

It was actually Kantserov who scored the two goals referenced above, one assisted by Bedard and the other where Kane provided the secondary assist. Head coach Jeff Blashill recently gave some insight into what makes these three players click so well.

"Connor creates separation a lot, so it creates space. And then when the other two have space, they're really, really good players. So it's just a good kind of combo. And the other thing I'd say is Roman is very happy going to the net. So you still have a guy who will go to the net on the line because, sometimes I think those kind of lines get too spread out, and you don't get any play at the net. I thought they did a pretty good job of doing that.”

So far, so good for this line. They should be super fun to watch moving forward.

Power play options

With Bedard back, he can play the left flank on the power play, allowing Kane to move back to his natural right side. But Kane talked about how either could really work for him.  

“Well, it's comfortable (the right side). I mean, it's obviously something I've been used to for a long time. But I don't mind being on the left. I think you get a little bit more movement, more motion. I think it just sometimes maybe we can play, you can play through like left or right, just kind of depending on the kill we're playing against. A lot of teams like to kill on this diamond (formation). I think it’s easier when you're on your off side, and you kind of have the puck away from the defender a little bit. So just things like that. I mean, you can kind of see and scan the whole ice as well. So, but yeah, I mean, we'll see. I think it's kind of like a fluid situation. We'll just kind of see where things take us as it goes. If it's struggling, maybe switch it up, or if it's going well, we'll probably keep things the same.”

It's encouraging to know the Blackhawks have these options on the man advantage. They've now scored two power plays goals in the same amount of games. Hopefully they can keep up the good work.

Kane breaks yet another record

Against the Winnipeg Jets on Oct. 15, the Blackhawks came out with yet another win, this time a 4-3 overtime victory. In this contest, Kane provided the primary assist on Bedard’s power play goal in the first period. It was Bedard’s first goal of the season, which was exciting in its own right. But Kane’s helper gave him 895 career assists, surpassing Phil Housley for the most career assists by a U.S.-born player in NHL history.

Bedard gave his thoughts on the milestone and on playing with Kane after the game. "It's special. I wish I knew in the moment. You know, I was busy celebrating (laughs). That's, I mean, he's one of the best players that ever played the game, and to be included in a moment like that and get to score that for his confidence is pretty unbelievable … Just what he's able to do out there, and getting to see up close now, and play with him, and be on his team. See how he works off the ice, how dialed in he is to the game. I mean, he's 38 (on Nov. 19). He's won three cups, and he's the most competitive guy you'll see. Wants to win more than anybody, and he's just he's just a special player, and you know he's a guy that'll never be forgotten. So it’s pretty cool, to be honest with you."

Kane, for his part, expressed his excitement about the achievement, but then he got back down to the business at hand. "I think the start of the season, I think there's certain things that go on that you're trying to get your game going, get yourself going, help get the team going a little bit, and not really thinking about too many records … So, but once you're in in the game, you kind of just focus on playing, and it's not like I was playing to try to get a record or get an assist or anything like that, just playing the game. So I think the last few games have been a little bit better, and try to continue to improve."

Incidentally, Kane provided another assist on Artyom Levshunov’s overtime goal in this contest. So he’s now up to 896 assists, and counting!

Old friends, but new relationships too!

Alex DeBrincat was a member of the Blackhawks for five seasons, and this is where he and Kane built a strong friendship. They also played together for the last three seasons with the Detroit Red Wings. DeBrincat recently signed a lucrative seven-year contract extension with the Red Wings, with an annual cap hit of $13 million. I asked Kane if he keeps in tough with his long-time friend.

“Yeah, I talk to him a lot. I probably talk to him every couple days, just in general. Obviously, after he signed his contract, I reached out to him. I don't think anyone's more deserving than him. He's a hard worker. He's so focused on the game. He loves the game. Productive. Probably one of the most competitive guys you'll have on your team, and just in the league in general. So he's very deserving … such a great kid, million-dollar smile.”

I swear to you, that part about the million-dollar smile was unprompted by me! But I’m sure we all remember “The Cat’s” smile!

Kane’s son, who they call “Trick”, and DeBrincat’s son Archie are also good friends. I asked this doting father whether Trick missed his buddy.  

“Yeah, he does. But you know, it's pretty cool. I think you come to a new situation, and even for me; like I make new friends, new teammates. Same thing for him too. He's kind of hit it off with (Arvid) Soderblom’s kid, and they're on the ice together. They're playing ministicks in the hallways, different things like that. So he's with them, but obviously he misses Archie. I think they might try to go down to the game in Detroit and just go see them and watch the game. So anytime those two get together, they're like to have fun and wrestle. Sometimes they become a mess, but they have so much fun together.”

Soderblom confirmed that Trick and his son Hugo have indeed become good friends. “They're on the same kind of hockey team there, and they play at the (Blackhawk’s) games too. So it's fun. Seems like they both love hockey. Yeah, make new friends and watch them enjoy the game of hockey as well. It's awesome.”

It sounds like Kane and his family are settling in quite well. Bedard might be the new face of the franchise, and the captain of this team. But Kane is an alternate captain, and he’s obviously leading and mentoring this young group in many ways. It’s embodied by his recent quote on what kind of team the Blackhawks can be.  

"That's always a work in progress, right? When you have a younger team and younger guys. I would say everyone's in here for a reason, and it's not to be something different than you are as a player. You're here to be the player that you are, right? So you can't go out and try to change. I mean, obviously, there's certain things you can get better at, certain things you can change as a player, but you can't go out and change who you are. I can't go out and just all of a sudden become a third line checker, right? Like that's not why I'm here. It's just you got to be confident in who you are, confident in your game and your attitude, and do your best to play to the best of your capability.”

It’s apparent the Blackhawks have a bright future ahead of them, and Kane wants to be a big part of it.

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