Count Andrew Mangiapane among those who were happy to see the Chicago Blackhawks bring back franchise icon Patrick Kane in free agency.
After stints with the New York Rangers and Detroit Red Wings, Kane signed a two-year, $16 million deal with the Blackhawks on Thursday to return to the team he won three Stanley Cups with during his 16-year stay in the Windy City.
Mangiapane, who was traded to Chicago last year just ahead of the deadline, is looking forward to getting the chance to play alongside Kane in the place where it all started for the 2016 Art Ross and Hart Trophy winner.
“It’s exciting that he’s coming back,” Mangiapane said in appearance on TSN1050’s First Up on Friday morning. “He’s a legend. It was exciting news when you heard that yesterday … you want to start the season already and go meet him and start that friendship there.”
After beginning his career as a sixth-round pick of the Calgary Flames, Mangiapane has since bounced around between the Washington Capitals, Edmonton Oilers, and Blackhawks over the past two seasons.
The Bolton, Ont. native has gotten to play with future Hockey Hall of Famers such as Alex Ovechkin, Connor McDavid, and Leon Draisaitl, and will now look to help the Blackhawks complete their rebuild alongside Kane and Connor Bedard.
“Each one of those players works hard and that’s kind of what sticks out to me,” he said of the collection of talent he has been around in recent seasons. Whether you’re in the Ovechkin stage where you’re later on in your career or whether you’re in the Bedard stage where you’re a young player, they’re still always putting in the work, working hard, and getting better every time they’re out on the ice. That’s really eye opening to me.
“But they’re all kind of different in their own ways. Ovi is one of the best players I’ve ever played with and he’s just so relaxed, so funny, and just so happy coming to the rink everyday even though he’s been doing it for 21 seasons now or whatever it is. It’s just amazing to see all of those guys and I’m sure when I look back on my career, it’ll be something that I tell my son about.”
In addition to bringing back Kane in free agency, the Blackhawks also inked Bedard to a five-year, $75 million extension and traded for emerging defenceman Bowen Byram to bolster their blue line.
Chicago has now missed the playoffs in each of the past six seasons and head into the 2026-27 campaign with a young but talented group that includes recent first-round picks Anton Frondell, Artyom Levshunov, Frank Nazar, Sam Rinzel, and Kevin Korchinski as they try to finish off their lengthy rebuild.
Mangiapane, now one of the more veteran players on the roster, is looking to help them do just that as he enters into the last season of a two-year deal at age 31.
“I think we added a lot of good pieces,” he said. “Obviously there’s a lot of young guys on this team so I think if everybody raises their level, even just one or two per cent, that makes a huge difference. I think that’s kind of what we’re counting on, some good youth and some older-aged guys as well. I like our team.
“The chance for me to play and be an older, veteran leadership voice on the team. That’s kind of what they want from me and I’m excited to almost step into a new role and try to be more of a leader to these young guys.”
