Aug. 8 declared “Patrick Kane Day” in Chicago

One of the best players in hockey history is being honored in a place he called home for over a decade.

On Friday, the city of Chicago officially announced that Aug. 8 (8/8) is Patrick Kane Day, commemorating the former Chicago Blackhawk legend who left a lasting impact on the team.

Kane began the day on the ice in the morning with youth hockey players, which will lead to an autograph signing and a live on-stage discussion later in the day.

Along with the numerical significance of the day, it seemed to be inevitable that the Windy City paid homage to Kane, a player who brought the Original Six franchise from the deepest depths of the NHL.

Kane was taken first overall by the Hawks in the 2007 NHL Draft. He immediately made an impact in his rookie season, winning the Calder Trophy. The following year, along with core players like Jonathan Toews, Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook, the Blackhawks went on a run of advancing to at least the Western Conference Final in five of the next seven seasons. The Buffalo native was at the forefront of the team’s “dynasty,” scoring the famous overtime winner in the 2010 final to give the Hawks their first Stanley Cup in 49 years.

Kane’s dominance of the game never seemed to stop during the team’s impressive stretch. He won the Conn Smythe Trophy in 2013, right after the Hawks won the Presidents’ Trophy as the best team in the league. Despite battling injury during the 2014-15 season, Kane was at his best in the playoffs, leading all skaters with 23 points in 23 games, giving Chicago its third title in six seasons.

2015-16 was certainly the former London Knight’s best campaign, individually. Kane led the league with 106 points, the first of two occasions where he hit the century mark in scoring. He won the Art Ross and Hart Trophies, along with the Ted Lindsay Award (then known as the Lester B. Pearson Award) as the player’s choice as the league’s most valuable player.

While Kane is still in action these days, playing for the rival Detroit Red Wings, his impact on the Blackhawks will never be forgotten. From his NHL debut in 2007 to the time he was traded to the New York Rangers in February 2023, Kane established himself as one of the best players in franchise history, and arguably the best American-born player of all time. He ranks third on the franchise list in games played (1,161) and goals (446), and second in assists (779) and points (1,225).