Kane Homecoming Secondary Story As Red Wings Visit Blackhawks

Sunday is going to be a huge night for a legendary Chicago Blackhawks star who wound up playing for the Detroit Red Wings.

Oh, and it’s also Patrick Kane’s homecoming to the Windy City.

As the Blackhawks raise the No. 7 of Hall of Famer Chris Chelios into the rafters of the United Center, Kane will be playing for the first time as a visiting player in Chicago.

It only took Patrick Kane 33 seconds to open the scoring for the Red Wings 👀pic.twitter.com/09wLBIbbyg

— DraftKings (@DraftKings) February 24, 2024

He’s expecting it to be emotional and knows succinctly what it means to him.

“Everything,” Kane said. “With my family and the fans, and obviously it’s a big night, too, with Chelios’ jersey getting retired. I think it’ll just be a fun night in general.”

Kane did it all in Chicago and for Chicago. He was part of three Stanley Cup winners. His Cup-winning goal in 2010 was the first scored by a Blackhawks player since 1961. Kane won a Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP, a Hart Trophy as regular-season MVP and a scoring title.

Red Wings Kane Knew It Was Time To Go

As much as it was a wonderful time in his life and hockey career, Kane also knew that it was time to go when he left last season in a trade with the New York Rangers.

“It was a great run,” Kane said. “I think we were kind of at the point in time where for the organization and myself it was probably good to start fresh and just enjoy something different.”

He helped Chicago rises from the ashes to ascend the top of the hockey world, and is helping the Red Wings make a similar journey. In Kane’s first season here, Detroit is occupying a playoff spot. The Red Wings and the postseason haven’t been together in a relationship since 2016.

“Obviously happy about everything we accomplished there and what we were able to do, especially my first 8-9 years there,” Kane said. “Now really excited and happy to be here and the opportunity with this group and what we can accomplish this year.”

Kane Grew Hockey In Chicago

If Kane wants any further evidence of his impact on the game in Chicago, he only need glance around the Red Wings locker room. Red Wings center J.T. Compher, whose birthplace is Northbrook, Illinois, is of the belief that the presence of Kane and those powerhouse Blackhawks teams drew him and other Chicago kids to opt for donning skates and chasing pucks.

“I don't care too much what people say. If I can be anything like him, that's pretty great, the career he had. I'm my own person and player and everything, so I'll do what I do and he does what he does.”

—Connor Bedard and whether he minds comparisons to Patrick Kane pic.twitter.com/QhkjpXjxSv

— Phillip Thompson (@_phil_thompson) February 23, 2024

“He did a lot for those teams,” Compher said. “It was so much fun getting to watch him when I was younger. He was a big part of why the Chicago kids around my age play so much hockey and why hockey’s so big.

“Those teams were huge for that area.”

As Kane makes his homecoming to his first NHL home, Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde is expecting the man they call Showtime to be putting on a show for the Chicago faithful.

“He’s such a competitor, I think he’ll have a big-time game,” Lalonde said.