The Chicago Blackhawks did not surprise very many fans by bringing back former Stanley Cup champion Patrick Kane on Thursday. The deal had been rumored for a while now. So, that wasn’t the big reveal.
What did raise more than a few eyebrows was the terms of the contract. The Blackhawks signed Kane to a two-year, $16 million deal. That’s an $8 million AAV.
Now, it’s good that Chicago wasn’t afraid to make a splash. But the club grossly overpaid for a batch of nostalgia.
The entire discussion this offseason was about finding a top-six winger who could play with Connor Bedard. While Kane is still a decent top-six forward, he isn’t exactly what Bedard needs. If the point is to mentor him, then the Blackhawks did well in bringing Kane in to support Bedard.
But at $8 million AAV? Perhaps the contract was more the result of wanting to evoke warm feelings in the fanbase.
It’s like when politicians talk about the “good ol’ days”. Candidates on the campaign trail talk about how good it was in the past, and why things aren’t as good now.
That’s what the Blackhawks are trying to do. They’re trying to tie the past in with the future. Bringing back Patrick Kane is a promise that things will be just as good as they once were.
Kane Likely Running Out His Career in Chicago
So, the two-year deal likely means that Kane will be running out his career in Chicago. It could very well be a two-year farewell tour for the future Hall of Famer.
Kane doesn’t really have anything to prove anymore. He’s got the hardware and the records. His resume doesn’t need any more padding. He’ll get voted straight into the Hall when his time comes.
He’ll also go down as one of the great Blackhawks players of all-time. His banner will hang in the rafters of the United Center till kingdom come.
There is nothing else to prove. That’s why Kane’s return is more about leaving things better off in Chicago than when he found them.
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Blackhawks Hoping to Start New Era by Coming Full Circle
Ultimately, the Blackhawks are hoping that Patrick Kane will usher in a new era by coming full circle. Fans will remember how good it was in the 2010s, when Chicago was the team to beat in the NHL.
Despite some stumbles along the way, the Blackhawks proved their long championship drought was nothing but a distant memory.
Kane’s return promises to help this core, spearheaded by Bedard, become the next dynasty in the NHL. The team certainly has the pieces to make that happen. So, the challenge will be to transform the vision into reality.
The only question mark will be how long that will take. Judging from Kane’s contract, the organization thinks it might be able to turn things around in two years. That’s a short turnaround considering the behemoths in the Central Division.
There’s plenty of reason for optimism in Chicago. Let’s see if Kane’s second life as a Blackhawks star will spur the next step.
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