Patrick Kane is well aware he’s been the subject of rampant trade speculation for months. The Chicago Blackhawks‘ winger just doesn’t believe the hype.
“It was all just rumors,” Kane said on Thursday from Chicago’s training camp media availability. “A lot of the rumors are just rumors, maybe people looking for things to talk about in August when nothing’s really going on with hockey, right? I don’t think there have been any legitimate discussions between other teams and the Blackhawks.”
The 33-year-old is entering the final season of his eight-year, $84 million contract, right as Chicago is knee-deep in a rebuild that could go on for years. That’s been the basis for intensifying theories around whether Kane — or Blackhawks’ captain Jonathan Toews, also in the last year of a deal identical to Kane’s — could be on the move.
Blackhawks’ general manager Kyle Davidson has insisted he’s not brokering talks around Chicago’s superstars. Nevertheless, Kane’s name trended repeatedly on social media throughout late summer, and friends kept him in the loop — like it or not — on the latest Internet rumblings about his future.
“You pay attention to it a little bit at first, and then you block it out after that,” Kane said. “It is what it is.”
The same could be said for where Chicago is currently. After a decade-long run of success that included three Stanley Cup victories, the Blackhawks are well into a lengthy restructuring and projected to be one of this NHL’s worst teams this season. How long it takes for Chicago to recover is anyone’s guess. And at this point, Kane said he hasn’t talked to the Blackhawks about a potential extension to stay on past the 2022-23 campaign.
“There really hasn’t been much discussion on anything,” Kane said. “It’s not anything we’ve really discussed. I think we all know the situation and what could potentially happen, but it’s not really anything I’m thinking about yet. We’ll see how everything plays out.”
If anything, the past few months have taught Kane to expect the unexpected. Davidson sent shockwaves through Chicago — and the hockey world at large — when he traded winger Alex DeBrincat to Ottawa in July. Kane and DeBrincat were long-time linemates and Chicago’s top scorers each of the last two years (Kane led the way with 91 points in 2021-22, just ahead of DeBrincat’s 78).
The DeBrincat move fully signaled Chicago’s change in direction and was personally gutting for Kane.
“That’s disappointing; it was kind of crushing at first,” Kane said of DeBrincat’s departure. “Not only did we have some great chemistry on the ice, but he was one of my best friends and closest teammates off the ice, too…we really pushed each other. He’s definitely a guy I’ll miss playing with.”
Kane will instead open this training camp on a line with Max Domi, who signed his one-year free agent contract with Chicago last summer. Domi was one of several Davidson additions in an offseason that included acquiring a new starting goaltender in Petr Mrazek (brought on via trade with Toronto) and hiring head coach Luke Richardson to replace interim bench boss Derek King.
Getting to know the fresh faces is where Kane’s focus lies. There is no “nagging [injury] issue” holding him back ahead of this camp like it did the past two seasons, so overall Kane said he’s feeling pretty good. The veteran acknowledged there are obstacles ahead for the Blackhawks to meet head on, but Kane is confident Chicago can perform better than expected.
“Everyone has a pretty positive outlook on the season, and I think we want to prove a lot of people wrong,” he said. “We’re all dealing with a new coach and new systems. It’ll be a challenge, but it’ll be good. We’ll just try to get the most out of this training camp and preseason and I’ll do what I can to get ready for the season, and help some guys along.”