Patrick Kane signs two-year deal to rejoin Chicago Blackhawks at $8M AAV

Patrick Kane has agreed to a two-year contract with the Chicago Blackhawks at $8 million average annual value, reuniting the Hall of Famer with the franchise where he won three Stanley Cups, per ESPN. Kane, 37, enters his 20th NHL season and is fourth among active players with 1,400 points and sixth with 508 goals.

Kane was drafted first overall by Chicago in 2007 and spent his first 16 seasons with the Blackhawks, establishing himself as a franchise cornerstone. He won the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year in 2007-08, the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP in 2013, and both the Hart Trophy (MVP) and Ted Lindsay Award in 2015-16 when he led the NHL with 106 points, per ESPN. With the Blackhawks, Kane is second all-time in points with 1,225 (behind Stan Mikita's 1,467), third in goals with 446, and third in games played with 1,161.

During his Chicago tenure, the Blackhawks made the playoffs nine straight seasons and reached the conference finals in five of them, according to ESPN. He was traded to the New York Rangers in 2023 as the organization entered a rebuild. Kane then signed three consecutive one-year contracts with the Detroit Red Wings, recording 16 goals and 41 assists in 67 games last season before becoming an unrestricted free agent.

Multiple reports indicated Kane was weighing a return to Chicago against a homecoming to the Buffalo Sabres. Connor Bedard, the 21-year-old who was drafted first overall by the Blackhawks a few months after Kane's trade, lobbied publicly for Kane's return, saying it would be "incredible" to play with him. Bedard signed a five-year, $75 million extension last week as a restricted free agent, per ESPN.

Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson said Kane "captivated the city of Chicago with his dazzling skill" and "helped bring our storied franchise back to the pinnacle of our sport."