Could Patrick Kane have a homecoming for the 2026-27 season?And if so, which home?Kane, the fourth-leading scorer among active NHL players, is an unrestricted free agent after spending three seasons in Detroit, and the Chicago Blackhawks and Buffalo Sabres are two logical destinations for his services next season. Kane is a Buffalo native and a Chicago icon, so either landing spot would be fitting for the twilight of one of the best and most influential careers in modern hockey history.But which one makes the most sense — for the team and for Kane? Let’s take a look:Why the Sabres would be interested in KaneThe Sabres let Alex Tuch walk in free agency and haven’t added a forward this offseason. As things stand, the Sabres are banking on internal development from a group of young forwards that includes Noah Ostlund, Konsta Helenius, Jiri Kulich, Zach Benson, Josh Doan and Jack Quinn. But adding some proven production wouldn’t hurt, either. On a per-game basis, Kane was more productive than Tuch last season. He’s not nearly the defensive player Tuch is, but he can help replace some of the goals Buffalo is losing. He still had 0.86 points per game over the last three seasons in Detroit.Buffalo’s power play could definitely use Kane. Over the last three seasons, Kane is 23rd in the NHL in points per 60 minutes of power-play time, according to Natural Stat Trick. During that stretch, he’s ninth in the NHL in primary assists per 60 minutes of power-play time. The power play was one of the Sabres’ most glaring weaknesses at times last season. Kane’s knowledge and on-ice impact in that area would be a huge boost.Kane has also won the Stanley Cup three times. Tuch and Bowen Byram, two of Buffalo’s most experienced playoff players, departed this offseason. Bringing in a player with Kane’s winning pedigree would be valuable for the Sabres’ young roster. It also doesn’t hurt that bringing in Kane would generate some buzz in an already re-energized fanbase. For the first time in years, the Sabres don’t need to worry about ticket sales, so that shouldn’t be a factor here.Why the Blackhawks would be interested in KaneWell, for starters, ticket sales and jersey sales would go through the roof. Kane might be the most popular player in franchise history, and a return to the United Center would delight most fans still longing for the 2010s glory days. Beyond the financial reasons, though, Kane would fill an obvious on-ice need for the Blackhawks — a top-six winger to play with Connor Bedard.Kane might have lost a step at 37, but his game was never predicated on foot speed; instead, it’s been about processing speed. Few players in NHL history think the game as well as Kane does, and his vision, anticipation and incredible passing touch would mesh well with Bedard’s own high-end skill and hockey sense — once Bedard returns from shoulder surgery, presumably sometime in November. In the shorter term, Kane would help keep the offense afloat during Bedard’s absence. The Blackhawks were still assessing potential upgrades at winger before Bedard’s injury, and they do want to ensure that whoever they target makes sense when Bedard returns, but it would seem like Kane checks all those boxes.One of the reasons general manager Kyle Davidson traded Kane ahead of the 2023 deadline was to clear the decks of the old stars, to allow the next generation of Blackhawks to grow into leadership roles unencumbered by the weight of the past. But now, with Bedard entrenched as the face and voice of the franchise, Kane could play a different, supporting role, easing that burden without overshadowing his successor.