Patrick Kane opens up about Connor Bedard, possible Blackhawks reunion, hip injury, and more originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago
Presented by Nationwide Insurance Agent Jeff Vukovich
DETROIT — When Patrick Kane stepped off the ice after his hour-long skating session in Detroit on Thursday morning, a young Chicago Blackhawks fan wearing a Connor Bedard jersey was one of many kids waiting for him to finish and ask for a photo.
When he saw the jersey, a smiling Kane joked to the fan: “We’ve got to change the 9’s to 8’s.”
Just like it’s weird to see No. 88 in a Red Wings jersey, Kane is still getting used to seeing No. 98 Bedard jerseys in Blackhawks red.
“Yeah, I mean, you know what, it’s great for Chicago, it’s great for the league to have a player of his caliber in that market,” Kane said of the Blackhawks winning the 2023 NHL Draft lottery and landing Bedard. “Obviously happy for the organization and for Connor, too, to go to a city like that. It’s a great place to play. He’s already doing well, I’m sure he’ll be even better as time goes on, so hopefully they can build something up there.”
Kane said he talked to Bedard a few times, both leading up to the draft and after he was officially selected with the No. 1 overall pick by Chicago. They are the only two players in franchise history to be taken first overall.
“He’s very respectful, you could tell he was raised the right way,” Kane said. “He’s still very young too, right? He’s a young 18-year-old, so I’m sure he’ll figure out ways to be better and better on the ice. It seems like he’s already got a good head on his shoulders.
“From afar, it seems like he’s already a pro, right? Whether it’s, you see him staying on the ice after practice, the way he takes care of himself, things like that. It’ll all go well with him.”
After the Blackhawks won the lottery, Kane thought there might be any outside chance his former team circles back. But the Blackhawks have respectfully turned the page to a new era.
“Yeah, I mean, I never really knew, right?” Kane said. “Especially after that first pick, I was like: ‘OK, maybe they’ll try to bring, even like Tazer or myself back.’ But it seems like they’re kind of headed in a different direction now, so yeah didn’t hear from them but I’m thinking they’re trying to kind of rebuild and get their young players in there and give them a chance. It is what it is.”
When asked whether he took that a little personally, Kane took the high road.
“No, I don’t think so,” Kane said….