The Minnesota Wild are waiting around for some kind of resolution in the Dylan Larkin trade saga. Things only got more difficult once Steve Yzerman stepped down as Detroit Red Wings general manager, meaning the Wild will have to wait until his replacement is hired. So it could be a while beore the Wild and the rest of the league find out whether Larkin is getting traded or staying in Detroit.
But for the Wild, they can take solace in the fact that things around the league have been quite quiet as of late. Well, besides settlements for restricted free agents before reaching arbitration. But for the Wild, they were given a jumpscare on Thursday morning.
Sportsnet NHL insider Eliotte Friedman broke the news that Patrick Kane was returning to the Chicago Blackhawks on a two-year contract. The Blackhawks confirmed the signing shortly thereafter, with a message of "welcome back 88."
ladies and gentlemen, this is the moment you’ve waited for… 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝟖𝟖‼️‼️ pic.twitter.com/nAurzlVBiC
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) July 23, 2026
This is pure nightmare fuel for Wild fans, as Kane has haunted the franchise throughout his Hall of Fame-worthy career.
Patrick Kane returns to Blackhawks and haunt the Wild
Everyone knows how great of a hockey player Kane was during his prime. That was why the Blackhawks were the NHL's dynasty in the 2010s, winning three Stanley Cup titles in five years. Unfortunately, the Wild got a first hand look of that.
The Wild and Blackhawks met in the playoffs three times in history, all taking placed in consecutive years from 2013 to 2015. Chicago won all three of those series, and Minnesota watched them win two Stanley Cup titles in those three instances.
In the 2013 Western Conference quarterfinals, Kane recorded five assists in Chicago's five-game series win over Minnesota. In the 2014 second-round series, Kane recorded one goal and four assists in six games. In the 2015 second-round series, Kane put up one goal and six assists in the Blackhawks' four-game sweep. So, in all, the Wild had just three playoff wins ever against Kane and the Blackhawks.
As for all-time, Kane has 26 goals and 31 assists in 62 career regular season games against the Wild. So, safe to say, Wild fans aren't too thrilled that a franchise villain is returning.
Blackhawks severely overpaid for Patrick Kane
While Kane was a nightmare to play against in the past, he is 37-years-old and at the tail-end of his career. Yet, the Blackhawks went all out to ensure Kane would return, and they paid a huge price to do so.
Friedman reports that the Kane is being paid $8 million annually by the Blackhawks over his two year contract. That's right, $8 million a year for a player that will be 39-years-old by the end of his contract. It doesn't end there, as Kane is also receiving a full no-movement clause in his contract.
it certainly looks like the Blackhawks had to do a lot of convincing for Kane to return to Chicago. Let's not forget that the other finalist for Kane were the Buffalo Sabres. Let's not forget that while yes, the Sabres were a surprise team this past season with high expectations for the foreseeable future, Kane was born and raised in Buffalo, so signing with the Sabres would have been a homecoming for him.
Overpaying has been a theme for Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson. Ahead of the NHL Draft, the Blackhawks traded the fourth-overall pick to the Sabres for defenseman Bowen Byram. Immediately afterwards, the Blackhawks gave Byram a six-year, $75 million contract extension. Once that kicks in after the 2026-27 season, Byram is set to be the highest-paid defenseman in hockey in terms of annual salary ($12.5 million).
The Blackhawks are trying to break out of their rebuild and make it back into playoff contention. So, Davidson is making aggressive moves in hopes that they could be enough to finally get them out of the basement of the Western Conference. Giving Byram all that money while passing on the chance to draft a young defenseman at No. 4 and signing Kane to an $8 million per year contracrt fit the bill.
Even with the signing of Kane, the Wild are positioned as one of the favorites to win the Central Division, and that's without having a true No. 1 center yet. But seeing Kane back in Chicago isn't going to make Minnesota fans too pleased.
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