When Kyle Davidson took over as the Chicago Blackhawks GM, he had a vision. That vision was to tear the team down to nothing and then build it back up through the draft. It was intentional to go through some painful years, which they certainly have.
Part of that teardown was the trade that sent Patrick Kane to the New York Rangers ahead of the deadline in 2023. He finished that year with New York, a first-round exit at the hands of the New Jersey Devils, and has played with the Detroit Red Wings ever since.
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On Thursday, the Blackhawks announced that Kane would be coming back on a two-year deal ($8 million AAV) at the age of 37. This comes just a couple of years after Davidson said that Kane’s time in Chicago was done, and it was a necessary move for the growth of the team. He continued to shoot down any return rumors from that point on.
At first, it made sense to let both Kane and Jonathan Toews go so that new leaders within the franchise could emerge. However, in 2024, Davidson mentioned that he doesn’t ever see them going back on that.
So, what changed? Davidson was asked that question during Friday’s presser reintroducing Kane:
“When Patrick departed a couple years ago, we were in a totally different spot as a franchise,” said Davidson. “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.”
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With Connor Bedard already reaching star status, along with Anton Frondell, Frank Nazar, and others on the rise, the organization felt like now would be a good time to bring back a franchise icon to help them grow.
Kane’s production on the ice may fluctuate over his final few years in the NHL, but his impact will be felt no matter what. His wisdom that comes from the experiences that he’s had as an NHL player will be invaluable to the younger members of the team.
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