Sport Bilder des Tages December 18, 2019, Chicago, IL, USA: The Chicago Blackhawks Patrick Kane (88) eyes the puck during the first period against the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2019, at the United Center in Chicago. Colorado at Chicago - ZUMAm67_ 20191218_zaf_m67_016 Copyright: xErinxHooleyx
Sport Bilder des Tages December 18, 2019, Chicago, IL, USA: The Chicago Blackhawks Patrick Kane (88) eyes the puck during the first period against the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2019, at the United Center in Chicago. Colorado at Chicago - ZUMAm67_ 20191218_zaf_m67_016 Copyright: xErinxHooleyx
Patrick Kane closed his chapter with the Detroit Red Wings this weekend. He posted his farewell message on social media on Saturday, July 25. This is just days after agreeing to return to the Chicago Blackhawks.
Kane's Detroit tenure, parts of three seasons sandwiched between stints in New York and Chicago, ends with a two-year, $16 million return to the Blackhawks.
Kane opened his farewell message by thanking the people who made his time in Detroit possible.
“Thank you to Marian and Chris Ilitch, Steve Yzerman, all the coaches, players, trainers, equipment managers, and everyone within the organization for making Detroit a special place for me and my family over the past few seasons," Kane shared the farewell note on X on July 25.
SPORTS-HKN-BLACKHAWKS-KANE-RANGERS-1ST-LEDE-TB Patrick Kane skates on the ice after the Blackhawks defeated the Maple Leafs 5-3 at the United Center on Feb. 19, 2023. Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune/TNS EDITORIAL USE ONLY Copyright: xx 72950556W ArmandoxL.xSanchezx krtphotoslive926459
SPORTS-HKN-BLACKHAWKS-KANE-RANGERS-1ST-LEDE-TB Patrick Kane skates on the ice after the Blackhawks defeated the Maple Leafs 5-3 at the United Center on Feb. 19, 2023. Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune/TNS EDITORIAL USE ONLY Copyright: xx 72950556W ArmandoxL.xSanchezx krtphotoslive926459
Kane reunited with longtime friend Alex DeBrincat in Detroit. Their relationship started years earlier when the two played together in Chicago.
“To be able to play with Alex DeBrincat again, one of my best friends in hockey, and watch our sons develop a similar friendship was incredible. You’re an amazing player and person and I cherished our time together on and off the ice," he added in the same post.
Kane also thanked his Detroit linemates, including a playful jab at Ben Chiarot for scoring during his record-breaking night.
That record came in January, when Kane's 1,375th career point made him the all-time leading U.S.-born scorer in NHL history, passing Mike Modano. He also scored his 500th career goal during his time in Detroit in January this year.
His time with the Detroit Red Wings from 2023 to 2026 became the perfect second chapter of his career. It helped him bounce back from major hip resurfacing surgery, reach historic milestones, and earn a high-profile return to Chicago.
Kane closed his message by thanking Red Wings fans, even apologizing for the team's failure to make it to the playoffs during his time.
A bittersweet milestone for Patrick Kane
Kane's exit comes just after he agreed to a two-year, $16 million contract with the Blackhawks. He now goes back to the team that drafted him first overall in 2007 and where he won three Stanley Cups.
Chicago's roster is better equipped than before, making Kane's return well-timed. His playmaking skills can help guide the team's younger forwards and reduce the offensive load while Connor Bedard recovers. He is also expected to help guide new defenseman Bowen Byram.
Across his 19-year NHL career, Kane has scored 1,400 points on 508 goals and 892 assists, per NHL.com. Kane's return to Chicago offers a rare full-circle ending, a chance few veterans get.
What do you think about Kane's farewell message to Detroit? Let us know in the comments below.
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Written by
Aadhya Nalla
Edited by
Soheli Tarafdar