Patrick Kane: Chicago Blackhawks great makes home return

On Oct. 6, 2007, Chicago Blackhawks right wing Patrick Kane and fellow rookie Jonathan Toews arrived at the United Center for their first home game under a cloud of expectations and anticipation.

They weren’t just highly drafted hopefuls — Kane the No. 1 pick that year, Toews the No. 3 selection in 2006. They needed to be the team’s future.

After the Hawks erased a 3-1 third-period deficit to force overtime and eventually a shootout against the Red Wings, future Hall of Famer Pavel Datsyuk missed Detroit’s first attempt.

Next up, Kane.

One second he was on the bench chomping his white mouthguard, the next he was called upon by coach Denis Savard to open the shootout for the Hawks. He began skating toward goaltender Dominik Hašek, the former Sabre and childhood hero of the Buffalo, N.Y, native.

Kane went to the net, chose the right side and lifted a backhand shot into the back of the net. It ended up the only successful attempt of the shootout for a 4-3 Hawks victory.

Nineteen years later to the day, Kane will play his first game at the United Center for the Hawks since they traded him at the 2023 deadline. A sellout crowd will be on hand Tuesday night for the home opener against the St. Louis Blues.

Kane’s memory was a tad fuzzy about his original home debut. It’s no surprise that the 37-year-old might get his 509 career goals and 892 assists mixed up with each other.

“I don’t even remember the first time (at the United Center), to be honest with you, it was so long ago,” Kane said with a chuckle Monday. “I wasn’t playing one of the preseason games and there was like 2,000 people in the crowd, and I just sat in the crowd with my suit and no one came up to me or anything.

“There wasn’t too much attention or spotlight on the Blackhawks back then. A little bit different now.”

Kane’s last home game in the Hawks lineup came on Feb. 21, 2023, and he made his first return to the United Center on Feb. 25, 2024, with the Red Wings. He received a two-minute, camera-shaking standing ovation — and then scored the game-winning goal in overtime.

Toews — who got three minutes of applause and took four laps during his return last season with the Winnipeg Jets — and Niklas Hjalmarsson were among those watching the morning skate Tuesday at the Blackhawks Ice Center.

“It’s amazing to be back in Chicago and being a Blackhawk,” Kane said. “Who knows what it’s going to feel like, all the emotions and all that stuff. Definitely looking forward to it.”

The three-time Stanley Cup champion and former MVP returned to the Hawks this summer, signing a two-year, $16 million free-agent contract. Kane played for the Red Wings the last three seasons after the Hawks originally traded him to the New York Rangers.

Kane and general manager Kyle Davidson previously had been mum about a potential reunion. Still, the Hawks made sure no one else wore No. 88 — it was the first thing they told winger Andrew Mangiapane, who had been No. 88 with the Edmonton Oilers, when he was traded to the Hawks in March.

Eventually No. 88 will likely hang in the United Center rafters. But maybe there was a slight hunch that Kane would wear the jersey again.

He made it clear his return was about winning, not nostalgia.

“It’s not like I’m just coming back home to ride off into the sunset,” Kane said at his introductory news conference. “I want to be a big player here and help the team win.”

It hasn’t gotten off the best start.

While Kane scored in his first game back, the Hawks were outscored 15-5 on an 0-3 opening trip. Connor Bedard’s absence hasn’t helped, but the young team looked lost at times during the three road losses.

Getting back to the United Center should help. The Hawks will play eight of their next nine games there. Toews, Hjalmarsson and others won’t be on the ice — but Kane will.

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And for one night at least, that’s more than enough for the Hawks faithful.