Connor Bedard has a recruiting target, and it’s a familiar one in Chicago. Fresh off signing his own long-term deal, the Blackhawks center is openly pitching Patrick Kane on a return to the franchise where he built his legacy.
Kane, 37, spent 16 seasons in Chicago and helped deliver three Stanley Cup titles before the team’s rebuild sent him elsewhere. “Showtime” landed with the Rangers in 2023, the same year Chicago drafted Bedard first overall a few months after trading Kane, and he’s spent the last three seasons with the Red Wings. Now an unrestricted free agent, Kane is exactly the kind of veteran Bedard would love to line up alongside in 2026-27.
Speaking Monday, days after finalizing his five-year, $75 million contract, Bedard made no secret of the wish. He said he isn’t sure what he can say to sway Kane’s decision, but that the team and its fans would be thrilled to have him. Bedard imagined the reception Kane would get for his first game back at the United Center and the energy it would bring, and he framed the chance to play with and learn from Kane as a rare opportunity. His pitch was straightforward: “hopefully he comes back and we can play together.”
The interest goes beyond nostalgia. Bedard thinks Kane could help fix an offense that ranked 30th in the league last season. Kane posted 16 goals and 41 assists in 67 games for Detroit in 2025-26, while Bedard led Chicago with 75 points in 69 games.
If Kane does return, the two may not share the ice right away. Bedard had surgery on his left shoulder on July 8 with a four-month recovery timeline, though he sounded hopeful about beating it, saying he’ll do everything day-to-day to get back as fast as he can.
Bedard also described smooth negotiations that landed on the five-year term, saying both sides were comfortable with the length. He waved off the idea that Anaheim’s matched five-year, $90 million offer sheet for Leo Carlsson had shaped his own talks, making clear Chicago is the only place he wants to play and that he’s more than satisfied with the money.
