CHICAGO — Patrick Kane raised his stick and skated to center ice three times, and the crowd grew louder with each lap. He continued cheering as play resumed, and then resumed when Kane appeared on the overhead video board.
Showtime was back, and no one seemed to care much that he played for one of Chicago's old rivals at this point.
Kane returned to Chicago with the Detroit Red Wings on Sunday for his first game against the Blackhawks since being traded to the New York Rangers a year ago. The 35-year-old winger, nicknamed Showtime for his flashy style, scored 446 goals and 779 assists in 1,161 regular-season games with his NHL first team.
Like so many times before, Kane delivered. He had a goal and an assist in Detroit's 3-2 victory, closing it with a breakaway with 1:43 of overtime. While celebrating his winner, Kane shouted, “Show time!” with his arms raised as the season-high 21,141 United Center spectators applauded.
“There's a lot of emotions right now, scoring that goal, being back here, being on a different team,” said Kane, who has five goals and seven assists during an eight-game point streak. “I just tried to show the fans in the end that they will always have my heart here.”
Kane's return home to Chicago coincided with the Blackhawks retiring Hall of Fame defenseman Chris Chelios' No. 7 jersey in a pregame ceremony. Chelios also spent time with the Red Wings during his playing career.
Chelios paid tribute to Kane during his speech and said the Buffalo native will go down in history as the greatest American-born hockey player.
“That shirt looks a little funny, Kaner, but you'll like it,” he said. “And don't worry, everything will be okay in the end. You'll be here, just like me.”
That set off the first of a series of thunderous roars at the United Center. There was another standing ovation when Kane was announced to Detroit's starting lineup.
The Blackhawks aired a tribute video during the first television timeout of the first period. The crowd began applauding before the video even began, and then continued as Kane repeatedly waved in thanks, sometimes with a sheepish smile.
“It's so special. Nothing less is expected of the Blackhawks with the tribute,” Kane said. “I didn't know if I did enough laps or too many laps. The guys kept telling me to go for another, go for another. Some of them wanted to see four, I only did three. It was great.”
Kane became a free agent after finishing last season with the Rangers. He underwent hip rejuvenation surgery in June and got back into shape before signing with Detroit in November. He has 12 goals and 16 assists in 27 games with the Red Wings.
“It's been fantastic. I have nothing but positive feelings and emotions being here,” he said of joining Detroit. “I really enjoyed my time here. I think the group has been fantastic, the coaching staff, everyone gave me the opportunity to come here, fit in and find my game.”
Kane was selected by Chicago with the first pick in the 2007 draft. He made an immediate impact, winning the Calder Trophy for NHL Rookie of the Year after scoring 21 goals and 51 assists during the 2007-08 season.
It was just the beginning.
The rise of Kane, Jonathan Toews and defenseman Duncan Keith helped the Blackhawks achieve the best streak in franchise history, winning the Stanley Cup in 2010, 2013 and 2015. Chicago also reached the Western Conference finals in 2014, losing to Los Angeles. Angeles Kings in a seven-game series.
“When you go through that, you don't realize how lucky and grateful you can be,” Kane said. “But, man, I mean we had some players on that team and, you know, I think the best thing about that team is that we were very close as a group, but there was also a lot of internal competition.”
The Blackhawks have struggled lately and Kane waived a no-movement clause in his contract to facilitate the trade with New York last year.
“It was a great race,” Kane said. “I think we were in the moment where it was, I think for the organization and for me, it was probably good to start over and just enjoy something different.”
