Ahead of the 2023 NHL Trade Deadline, the Chicago Blackhawks traded Patrick Kane to the New York Rangers. The decision to move on from him was not an easy one for the organization, but one they felt was necessary at the time.
Chicago ended up finishing with the third-worst record, and the lottery balls fell their way. The Blackhawks won the first overall pick, which gave them the privilege to select Connor Bedard.
It wasn't wise not to even consider bringing Kane back once they secured Bedard. He, along with Jonathan Toews, who they also forced out, would have been the perfect mentors for their young superstar prospect. Instead, Toews took two years off, and Kane moved on to the Detroit Red Wings.
Kane’s impact on Bedard would have helped him both on and off the ice. In terms of hockey, Kane is one of the most productive offensive wingers of all time. Having him on the top line with Bedard from the jump would have helped the kid’s production, which would have allowed him to reach a premier confidence level early.
Off the ice, Kane is obsessed with winning and making himself better. He is still productive in his late 30s, and that is a result of his dedication. With Kane to look up to, it may not have taken almost three years for Bedard to take action on his skating/speed issues. He likely would have been more motivated to improve with each passing day if he had the opportunity to watch Kane up close.
Instead of letting their generational stars lead the way, Chicago opted to bring in guys like Corey Perry, Nick Foligno, Taylor Hall, and Patrick Maroon, among others, to be leaders. Those are all great players, but none of them have the impact that a guy like Kane (or Toews) has.
Bedard came into the league and was already so much better than everyone else on his team. If Kane were there, that would not have been the case.
Kane is signed to another one-year deal with Detroit, so in theory, he can come back one day. However, based on Kyle Davidson’s previous comments, it doesn’t sound likely ever to happen. Instead, Bedard will have to keep learning what it takes to be a star from scratch, although the Blackhawks could have had an elite example already waiting for him.
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