Patrick Kane said a personal phone call from Chicago Blackhawks chairman Danny Wirtz on the first day of free agency played a major role in bringing him back to Chicago.
Even players traded before the end of the season matter in our Chicago Blackhawks player grades. Perhaps no better example of that is Jason Dickinson, who may have been just as important to the team’s success as Connor Murphy in his tenure.
To say Kyle Davidson and the Chicago Blackhawks are having an interesting off-season seems like an understatement. Davidson shocked the NHL when he traded the 2026 4th overall pick to Buffalo for defenseman Bowen Byram.
The Chicago Blackhawks finished their 2025-26 campaign 31st in the league, with a record of 29-39-14 and 72 points. It was an improvement from last season’s totals of 25-46-11 (61 points), but the organization had more progress in mind when they embarked on this campaign.
Jonathan Toews could still officially retire as a Chicago Blackhawk. During Patrick Kane’s introductory press conference on Friday, Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson said the organization would “love to” bring Toews back on a one-day contract so he can end his career with the team that made him a star.
The NHL has had an interesting new millennium. It was a league sans a salary cap when the 2000s started… and then the owners locked the players out for an entire season.
The Chicago Blackhawks want to bring Jonathan Toews back for one last moment. General manager Kyle Davidson brought up the idea of a one-day contract on Friday, July 24, during a press conference for forward Patrick Kane.
Patrick Kane returned to Chicago this week and showed everyone exactly what the Blackhawks still mean to him. He met with reporters on Friday at the Blackhawks Ice Center. This is just one day after signing a two-year, $16 million contract to rejoin the team.
When the Blackhawks acquired defenseman Bowen Byram from the Sabres before the draft, there was some sticker shock on two fronts. The first was the price paid to acquire him with a package including the fourth-overall pick. The second was the subsequent six-year, $75MM contract extension he signed earlier this month.
Connor Bedard made his stance on loyalty clear this week and explained why he never considered leaving. His comments during a radio interview echoed a similar message shared by Matthew Schaefer.
The Chicago Blackhawks may not be done with reunions this offseason. A day after officially bringing back Patrick Kane, general manager Kyle Davidson said Chicago would love to give Jonathan Toews the same send-off the franchise gave Marian Hossa: a one-day contract that lets him retire as a Blackhawk.
People will talk about the “Mount Rushmore” for a franchise, which is to say the four people, usually four players, that most define the franchise. Not always the four-best players, but the four that evoke the essence of the franchise.
Patrick Kane going back to Chicago isn’t just a “where he’s playing next” thing. It looks like a really personal, full-circle move for him. And from the way he talked right after signing, it sounds like he’s genuinely fired up for a few reasons.
The Chicago Blackhawks brought back Patrick Kane this week on a two-year contract worth $16 million. Kane, a nine-time All-Star player, won three Stanley Cup championships with the Blackhawks.
Patrick Kane’s return to the Chicago Blackhawks wasn’t a snap decision, and according to his longtime agent Pat Brisson, that was by design. The veteran forward intentionally took his time before choosing a landing spot, something his agent had encouraged because, well, he’s Patrick Kane.
What we thought was the impossible happened as Patrick Kane signed a two-year, $16 million contract ($8 million per season) on July 23 with the Chicago Blackhawks.
Before Bowen Byram was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks, has agent was talking to some teams, and the price got as high as $14 million Puck Pedia: Agent Darren Ferris said when talking to some teams about what Bowen Byram was looking for, one team went as high as $14 million.
Chicago selected Kane with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2007 NHL Draft, and he more than lived up to the hype, becoming one of the best players in franchise history.
The Chicago Blackhawks extension of forward Connor Bedard has made him the third-highest paid player in NHL and the resigning of Bedard benefits both sides.