Patrick Kane brushes off the nostalgia of his Blackhawks return: ‘I want to be a big player here’

CHICAGO — Even though Patrick Kane started his career with the Chicago Blackhawks, his reintroductory news conference Friday might have felt weird.

Yes, he helped the Hawks win three Stanley Cup championships in his first stint with the team, but three years away could have added uncertainty to the day.

As Kane walked into the Blackhawks Ice Center media room with general manager Kyle Davidson, he greeted reporters, noting “some familiar faces.” Kane’s longtime girlfriend, Amanda Grahovec, and their 5-year-old son, Patrick Kane III, preceded him, sitting in the front row with grins on both their faces.

The 37-year-old right wing had the two beat with his large smile that lit up the room. He sat in his chair, comfortable and poised as could be.

So no, not weird at all.

The Hawks brought back Kane, who spent the first 15-plus seasons of his career in Chicago, signing the future Hall of Famer to a two-year, $16 million contract Thursday to return to the franchise that drafted him No. 1 in 2007.

He’ll look to add to his Hawks numbers — 446 goals, 779 assists and 1,225 points. The stats each rank in the top three in franchise history.

“It’s great to be a Blackhawk again,” he said Friday. “I appreciate everything (Davidson) had to deal with the last few weeks, just with taking my time and going through the process and the decision.

“Obviously the story’s great, coming back to Chicago and being a Blackhawk again, where I spend my summers and Chicago being my home.”

The Hawks in February 2023 traded Kane to the New York Rangers, and he spent the last three seasons with the Detroit Red Wings.

After signing his contract Thursday, Kane skated through reps at the Blackhawks Ice Center in a Hawks sweater. The forward said his second Hawks stint is no farewell tour, noting that his motivation is to help a developing team.

“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,” Kane said. “I talked about all that other stuff (and) I think all that’s great, but that’s not why I’m here.

“It’s not like I’m just coming back home to ride off into the sunset or whatever it is. I want to be a big player here and help the team win.”

The Hawks, though, appear to be further away from competing than the club he decided against joining, the Sabres. Kane is a Buffalo, N.Y., native, and the Sabres last season ended a 14-year postseason drought. The Hawks have missed the playoffs six consecutive seasons and eight of nine.

In the end, he chose the Hawks.

“It’s always in the back of your mind, I don’t know if I ever really thought (coming back) was possible,” Kane said. “It got to the point (around free agency) where I wanted to see what was out there and what teams would be interested.

“When Chicago showed their interest, it really got me interested as well. You start looking at the team, the potential and where they’re at as a group, it really made sense and seemed like a perfect fit for me.”

It’s a change of pace for Davidson, who previously had brushed off a Kane reunion. That was a different time for Davidson, and the needs of his team led him to sway his opinion on bringing back the forward.

“We were much more at the outset of this whole project (when Kane was traded), and now that we’ve got some of these draft picks, (they’ve) established themselves (and) continue to grow within the NHL,” Davidson said. “From an organizational standpoint and roster standpoint, the time was right.

“(I want to) be very clear that we’re bringing (Kane) in to contribute to the hockey team here — 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.”

The Hawks completed most of their offseason tasks in July. They extended star center Connor Bedard, signed winger help in Kane and traded for and extended defenseman Bowen Byram. Frank Nazar’s seven-year, $46.13 million extension kicks in this season, and Kane signaled his desire to develop chemistry with the 22-year-old.

Bedard, who will miss at least a month of the season following left shoulder surgery, made his pitch for Kane on Monday after signing his five-year, $75 million extension.

“We’d all be so excited to have a player like that but also a guy like that,” Bedard said of Kane. “I can’t imagine his first game back at the (United Center), the reaction he’d get and how much juice that would bring to not only our team but our fans as well.”

“You talk about the legacy aspect of it, but just as a team, he would make us a way better team — he’s still an amazing player. I don’t know if this is the best pitch, but hopefully he comes back and we can play together.”

His pitch turned out to be successful, with Kane saying “it was cool to hear his comments and the excitement” Bedard will have playing alongside him. They’re expected to skate together on the top line — something Kane already has been thinking about.

“How can you not?” Kane said. “He’s such a special player. This would be my 20th year in the league, and I’d probably see passes I’ve never seen before playing with him.”

Kane’s son was 2 when his dad first left the Hawks, and he’ll see his father in a Hawks sweater again.

“I don’t think he really remembered much from my first time around, so it’ll be great,” Kane said. “I definitely view myself as a Blackhawk, obviously for everything we accomplished as a team, within the organization and personally. But for him to see that now and can really understand, it would be very special.”

Kane can only imagine the roar when he takes the United Center ice in the Oct. 6 home opener, again in a Hawks sweater.

“I remember coming back last year, I was on the ice for the national anthem and I was just so shocked at how loud it was,” Kane said. “I was thinking to myself: ‘Is this how loud it is every game? Did I take it for granted when I was here?’

“I’m sure it’ll be the same type of feeling going out there for the first home game and being back — it’ll be pretty electric.”