It may be the longest-running speculation in NHL history. Patrick Kane signing with (or getting traded to) the Buffalo Sabres, his hometown team.
Now, as Kane prepares for his milestone 20th season in the league, the idea is popping up again as the 37-year-old winger nears unrestricted free agency after spending the last three years with the Detroit Red Wings, one of Buffalo's Atlantic Division rivals.
"We've not asked what Dylan Larkin's [trade] request means for Patrick Kane, who will become a UFA July 1. Could he be an Alex Tuch replacement in Buffalo?" David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period said Thursday.
Tuch is also set to hit the open market on July 1. He'll be the top player available in NHL free agency if the Sabres aren't able to re-sign him over the next couple weeks, and so far there's been no indication Buffalo is prepared to meet his asking price, which is reportedly around $10.5 million per season.
Kane wouldn't be a direct replacement for Tuch, who carved out a crucial role in all three phases (even strength, power play and special teams) for the Sabres over the past five years. Filling the void he'd leave would be a multiplayer effort for the Blue and Gold.
That said, the Buffalo native still brings ample offensive skill to the table. He posted 57 points (16 goals and 41 assists) in 67 appearances for the Red Wings in 2025-26. Those numbers include 17 helpers on the power play, an area of extreme need for the Sabres.
Kane, a nine-time NHL All-Star and three-time Stanley Cup champion, is no longer a first-line player, but he does provide value as a middle-six winger and power-play specialist.
Does Patrick Kane actually want to play for the Buffalo Sabres?
Kane grew up in Western New York rooting for the Sabres, which is why the rumors have been so prevalent over the years. It's an easy connection to make.
Yet, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2007 NHL Draft has had opportunities to join Buffalo's roster in the past and always decided to go elsewhere.
At the 2023 trade deadline, Kane owned a no-movement clause when the Chicago Blackhawks dealt him away as part of their ongoing efforts to rebuild. It gave him full control over his next destination, which ultimately ended up being the New York Rangers.
He's proceeded to sign three straight one-year contracts with the Red Wings. He could have left in free agency, possibly to join the Sabres, but instead chose to remain in Detroit.
So, it's fair to question whether Kane actually has any interest in donning a Blue and Gold sweater before his career ends, or if that's always been more of a media creation.
This summer may tell the tale once and for all.
The Red Wings are facing an offseason of uncertainty because of the Larkin trade request and it's unlikely at this stage of Kane's career that he'd be interested in playing for a non-contender. He'd probably like to hunt down another Cup before he hangs up his skates.
In the past, Buffalo wasn't a prime destination for those late-career veterans seeking a title because of the organization's 14-year playoff drought. The Sabres finally ended that miserable streak, however, and now appear poised to make some noise in the years ahead.
In turn, if there was ever a time for Kane to call the KeyBank Center his hockey home, now feels like the moment to make it happen.
The future Hockey Hall of Famer is still productive — HockeyStats.com ranks him in the 77th percentile among NHL forwards based on weighted three-year wins above replacement (WAR) — and he could help offset the Tuch loss at the offensive end of the rink.
Buffalo would still have to lean more heavily on the likes of Zach Benson and Josh Doan to handle increased defensive responsibility, but they both have the skill set to handle that task, though there may still be some growing pains along the way.
All told, history says Kane actually joining the Sabres is more of a storybook tale than a future reality, but it's impossible to rule out the idea completely if Tuch does leave in free agency.
It's something to at least keep in mind as general manager Jarmo Kekalainen prepares for a high-pressure offseason with limited salary-cap space to utilize.
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