The NHL has been celebrating the first quarter century of the league since the calendar flipped to 2025. That has included a first and second all-star team for all 32 franchises that played over the first 25 years of the 21st century. 

The Chicago Blackhawks' first team consisted of Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, Patrick Sharp, Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook, and Corey Crawford. The second team comprised Alex DeBrincat, Marian Hossa, Brandon Saad, Brian Campbell, Niklas Hjalmarsson, and Jocelyn Thibault. 

This week, the league started announcing the quarter-century team for the league as a whole. With all of the success and future Hall of Fame players that Chicago has had this century, it was clear that they would have at least one representative. 

The first six players named included guys who made their debut before the year 2000 began but did most of their damage once the century turned. That included Nicklas Lidstrom, Teemu Selanne, Zdeno Chara, Joe Thornton, Jarome Iginla, and Joe Sakic. 

On Friday, the league announced the next six players, including Blackhawks legend Patrick Kane. The five others alongside Kane with this announcement are skaters who made their debuts from 2000-2010. 

That includes Sidney Crosby, Alex Ovechkin, Evgeni Malkin, Steven Stamkos, and Pavel Datsyuk. This is elite company for Kane to be associated with, and it’s well deserved. 

Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) on Xit's Showtime for the @NHL Quarter-Century Team!🎬 congrats, Kaner‼️👏

Since the end of the 2022-23 season, Kane has spent time with the New York Rangers and Detroit Red Wings, but most of his legendary career was spent with the Chicago Blackhawks. On an individual level, Kane won the Hart Trophy, Art Ross Trophy, Calder Trophy, Ted Lindsay Award, and the Conn Smythe Trophy.

In 1302 games played, Kane has 492 goals and 851 assists for 1343 points. Those gaudy statistics and all of the awards he has won will get him in the Hall of Fame on the first ballot. 

Of course, Kane has also won the Stanley Cup three times, which is his crowning achievement above all. With a career as decorated as Kane's, it’s hard to argue against him as the greatest American-born player of all time. He is also in the conversation for the greatest Blackhawk ever. 

NHL (@NHL) on X@SAP We're over halfway through unveiling the #NHLQCTeam... Who else was voted to the team? 🗳️ Check back tomorrow to learn about the next group of players! NHL Quarter-Century Team presented by @SAP

The league is now halfway done announcing its quarter-century team. Up to this point, if anyone was going to represent the Blackhawks on the list, it was always going to be Patrick Kane. 

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