The Buffalo Sabres have had an unspectacular offseason after snapping their playoff drought and advancing to Game 7 of the second round, moving on from veteran winger Alex Tuch and defenseman Bowen Byram. The departures have subtracted 44 goals from last season, and it appears at this point that GM Jarmo Kekalainen is relying on internal improvement to fill the gap, but one of the external options that seemed to be realistic was the signing of future Hall-of-Famer and Buffalo native Patrick Kane.
Kane remains unsigned after the first two weeks of free agency, but Hall-of-Fame blueliner and TNT commentator Chris Chelios indicated on a Chicago radio show that a return to the Blackhawks is a possibility.
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“I am not gonna lie to you guys, it is down to Buffalo and Chicago. I know that.” Chelios said on 104.3 The Score on Wednesday. “I spoke to (Patrick), it’s a tough decision for him, whether to go home and make it easy on his parents, his family and his friends and finish like (Jonathan Toews) tried to do, or he comes back (to Chicago). In my opinion, he’s a Blackhawk.”
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Kane spent the last three seasons with the Detroit Red Wings, but rumors of the Buffalo native heading to his hometown team have circulated ever since he was dealt by the Blackhawks to the NY Rangers in 2023. The circumstances with the Sabres as a playoff team could be a good fit. Kane being added for secondary offense and as a Tuch replacement on the power play would be beneficial, since he posted 79 assists over the last two seasons. It is just a question of whether he wants to play in his hometown at the end of his career or return to the place where he won three Stanley Cups.
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The Hawks are in need of help, especially at the start of the regular season with star center Connor Bedard out until Thanksgiving with a shoulder injury. After the signing of Peyton Krebs, the Sabres have just over $5 million in cap space, while Chicago has over $29 million in cap room and could afford to give the veteran winger one final big pay day on a short-term deal.
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