- Jonathan Toews told Patrick Kane he’s “straight-up jealous” of his Blackhawks return
- Toews retired this summer after a comeback year with his hometown Jets
- Read below for the full text exchange and what Kane brings back to Chicago
Patrick Kane is going home, and his old captain has a confession.
Jonathan Toews reached out to Kane after Chicago signed Showtime to a two-year deal on Thursday. He’s happy for him. He’s also a little jealous.
Toews shared the text exchange he had with Kane, relayed by Mark Lazerus of The Athletic:
“We were texting, and as happy as I am for him, I told him I’m straight-up jealous that he’s gonna get to play for the Hawks again.”
There’s a reason it stings a little. Toews came back for one last run with his hometown Winnipeg Jets in 2025-26, then made his retirement official this summer. He never got the storybook return to Chicago that Kane just landed.
He isn’t bitter about it, though. Toews told Lazerus the franchise is trending in the right direction and Kane’s experience will help the young core. Two former Cup-winning teammates, one still playing, one watching from the outside.
Kane comes back on a two-year deal worth $8 million per season, per Elliotte Friedman. He’ll skate alongside Connor Bedard, the face of Chicago’s rebuild, in a reunion nobody in the room saw coming a year ago.
Kane gets to finish his career in the sweater he made famous. Toews will be watching, a little envious, from the outside.
