Patrick Kane Talks 'Amazing' Blackhawks Reunion After New Contract, Thanks Red Wings in Statement

Patrick Kane thanked both the Detroit Red Wings and the Chicago Blackhawks in a Saturday post celebrating his return to Chicago.

Kane, who played the first 15 and a half seasons of his NHL career with the Blackhawks but spent the last three seasons with the Red Wings, signed a two-year, $16 million deal with the Hawks last Thursday.

"What a time! To say I get to be a Blackhawk again is an amazing feeling... the love, passion and energy I've felt from the fans has been unparalleled, even when I was not always wearing the Blackhawks sweater," Kane wrote. "There's nothing like the city of Chicago and home games in the UC."

Kane added he chose to return to the Blackhawks "because of the talent here and to be a part of helping this iconic franchise get back to the next level."

The Red Wings and Blackhawks both responded with heart emojis.

Kane, who will turn 38 in November, recorded 57 points (16 goals, 41 assists) in 67 games of his final season with the Red Wings.

He thanked the Red Wings by shouting out former teammates Alex DeBrincat, Dylan Larkin, Moritz Seider, Lucas Raymond, Michael Rasmussen, Andrew Copp, J.T. Compher and Ben Chiarot.

DeBrincat has spent the majority of his NHL career playing alongside Kane, who was his teammate and regular linemate in Chicago from 2017 to 2022 and again in Detroit from 2023 to 2026.

"To be able to play with Alex DeBrincat again, one of by best friends in hockey and watch our sons develop a similar friendship was incredible," Kane wrote. "You're an amazing player and person and I cherished our time together on and off the ice."

Kane also referenced his assist on a goal Chiarot scored in January that allowed Kane to record his 1,375th career point and pass Mike Modano for the most points by a U.S.-born NHL player.

"Just too bad Benny scored to help me break the U.S. points record, now I have to hear about that forever," Kane wrote.

Kane also thanked leaders within the Red Wings organization including former general manager Steve Yzerman, who stepped down from his position in July after the Red Wings failed to make the playoffs in his seven-season tenure.

The Blackhawks originally drafted Kane with the top pick of the 2007 draft. He went on to play a key role in the franchise's three Stanley Cup wins between 2010 and 2015, including a Conn Smythe run in 2013.

He will now look to help the Blackhawks make it back into the playoffs for the first time since 2020.

Kane will be tasked with providing additional offense in the upcoming absence of star forward Connor Bedard, who is expected to miss the beginning of the 2026-27 campaign after going offseason shoulder surgery.

Once Bedard is back in the lineup, he and Kane could potentially skate on the same line as the Hawks aim to put together a more competitive season after four years in the basement of the Central Division.