Patrick Kane was reintroduced to Chicago Blackhawks fans on Friday after signing a two-year, $16 million contract with the organization that selected him with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2007 NHL Draft.
Kane, a Buffalo native, confirmed his hometown Sabres were also interested and emerged as a finalist before he opted for a reunion with the Hawks as an unrestricted free agent.
"Yeah, I think the cat was out of the bag," the three-time Stanley Cup champion told reporters. "It was pretty much down to Chicago and Buffalo. For the last little bit, I felt like the decision was going to be coming back to Chicago. I was excited about that opportunity."
Kane spent the first 16 years of his NHL career with the Blackhawks, highlighted by that trio of championships. He recorded 1,225 points (446 goals and 779 assists) across 1,161 regular-season appearances during his first stint with the franchise.
Now he'll return to the Windy City as a 37-year-old veteran after a brief stint with the New York Rangers and three years as a member of the Detroit Red Wings.
The 2016 Hart Trophy winner as the NHL's Most Valuable Player proved he can still make a high-end offensive impact last season with the Wings, tallying 57 points (16 goals and 41 helpers) in 67 games.
Kane figures to take on a prominent role for Chicago as the Hawks attempt to turn a corner in their rebuilding process. He may even get an opportunity to skate alongside budding superstar Connor Bedard when he returns from an offseason shoulder injury.
Fittingly, the Blackhawks are the Sabres' opponent in their home opener at the KeyBank Center for the 2026-27 season on Oct. 3. Fans in Western New York figure to voice their displeasure after the winger once again passed on a chance to join the Blue and Gold.
Sabres' crowded depth chart was never a perfect fit for Patrick Kane
While questions have been raised about how Buffalo will replace the lost offense stemming from the departure of Alex Tuch, who was sent to the Washington Capitals in a sign-and-trade deal ahead of free agency, general manager Jarmo Kekalainen hasn't been overly aggressive.
That's not to say a move isn't coming. Perhaps now that the Kane situation is in the rearview mirror, he'll look to make a different addition via trade or a free-agent signing. It's not a guarantee, though.
In fact, Kekalainen seems confident in the Sabres' chances of being able to fill the void through the internal improvement of their own young players.
Buffalo's roster features a large contingent of U25 forwards capable of taking their games to another level. It's a group that includes Josh Doan, Zach Benson, Jack Quinn, Noah Ostlund, Jiri Kulich and Konsta Helenius, the franchise's top prospect.
When you add in the veterans, including depth signing Conor Sheary, the Sabres will have 16 forwards at training camp competing for just 13 spots on the active roster.
As a result, signing Kane without any other moves in the queue — they've been linked to a possible blockbuster trade for Winnipeg Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck, a deal that would likely require a few roster players — would have merely added to the logjam.
Clearly that didn't stop the Sabres from at least considering the idea, but it did make it a situation where the front office wasn't desperate enough to enter a bidding war.
The Blackhawks moved ahead with a super strong offer (an $8 million AAV on a two-year term is a lot for Kane at this stage of his career) and it was always unlikely the Blue and Gold were going to come anywhere close to that number.
In addition, the 2013 Conn Smythe Trophy winner would have probably been relegated to a lesser middle-six role with expanded power-play duties in Buffalo. Going to Chicago will give him a far better chance to remain a key cog in 5-on-5 situations.
So, while Kane landing back home in the 716 would have been a cool storyline heading into the new season, rejoining the Hawks always made way more sense on paper.
Expect the Kane-to-Buffalo rumors to reignite in 2028 if the future Hockey Hall of Famer is looking to continue his career into his 40s, though.
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