While the future looks promising with young stars like Connor Bedard and Frank Nazar, we're still in the midst of some uncharacteristically lean years for the Chicago Blackhawks.That's why there's so much excitement surrounding Patrick Kane's return to a Blackhawks sweater. A key piece of the team's juggernaut run in the 2010s, Kane gives fans a chance to celebrate the past while they wait for the next great Chicago team to emerge.And, man, at Wrigley Field, they were certainly ready to cheer.NHL'S TOP AMERICAN-BORN SCORER PATRICK KANE SIGNS DEAL TO RETURN TO CHICAGO BLACKHAWKSThe Cubs hosted their cross-town rival White Sox on Tuesday at the Friendly Confines — which, speaking of hockey, was the site of one hell of a donnybrook this week — and while the two fanbases can't agree on much, there was one thing they could get on the same page about.The Blackhawks.Specifically, No. 88.Kane — fresh off signing a nifty two-year, $16 million deal with the Blackhawks — was given first-pitch duties, and the Chicagoland fans gave him a massive ovation.There was so much clapping I thought some people were going to have to eat their next Italian beef sandwich with a pair of bloody stumps where their hands used to be.But the guy deserves it. Kane is the top American-born scorer in NHL history, and there's really no way they win those three Cups without him.CONNOR BEDARD RE-SIGNS WITH BLACKHAWKS, ENDING HOPES FOR ANOTHER NHL OFFER SHEET THIS OFFSEASONEspecially the one in 2010 (as a Flyers fan, that winning goal still haunts me).But that's the past, and the objective will be a little different this time around. This deal could be his last, and it's going to be about pointing the next generation of Blackhawks in the right direction so they can build a dynasty of their own.Of course, that's easier said than done, especially this year, as Connor Bedard will miss the start of the season after undergoing surgery.If the Blackhawks want a shot at keeping up with the Central Division frontrunners, they'll need to play well in his absence, and that's where they'll need some of that patented Patrick Kane offensive production.