CHICAGO — When it comes to promoting nostalgia, no one does it quite like the Chicago Blackhawks.

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So it’s not surprising the Hawks would bring back franchise legend Patrick Kane at 37 to re-create memories of the three-time Stanley Cup champions of the 2010s, pairing him with the next franchise savior — Connor Bedard — through the 2027-28 season.

Of course, any resemblance between those teams and the current edition of the Hawks is coincidental, and you don’t need AI to make a 37-year-old Kane look much different from his 19-year-old self.

Kane signed a two-year deal Thursday with an annual average of $8 million, which reminds us of his number, 88. It’s seen by many as overpaying for a player whose best years are in the past, but considering the marketing aspect for the Hawks, it’s probably worth every penny.

Word of the signing spread quickly, almost as though it was part of a well-planned advertising campaign. A “Welcome Home Patrick Kane!” message appeared on the Wrigley Field marquee, and the Bears tweeted a photo of Kane lifting the Stanley Cup while wearing a Bears jersey at Soldier Field, along with the message, “He’s baaaaaack.” The Hawks sent out several tweets, including one of Kane skating at the Blackhawks Ice Center, where he has been working out all summer.

Everyone was happy, not the least of whom was general manager Kyle Davidson, who has been adding talent through the draft the last four years but has yet to see any real progress in terms of winning. The Hawks have finished last in the Central Division every season since Bedard arrived three years ago, and sooner or later the rebuilding message gets old.

Davidson acquired top defenseman Bowen Byram in June, seemingly trying to fast-forward things, before the news of left shoulder surgery for Bedard that will sideline him until November. Kane’s return will bring an instant burst of media attention to the franchise, but whether it will make a difference in the standings is anyone’s guess.

Bringing back a beloved player to perhaps end his career where it all began makes for a good story, and it makes financial sense for the Hawks. Fans already are wondering when the rebuild will turn the corner and might need another reason to keep going to the United Center on those nights when it’s below zero and the team is floundering.

Now they’ll get to see Kane and Bedard together, at least when Bedard returns from his shoulder injury, and that will be a photo-op fans will cherish years later. Bedard is still young — he turned 21 last week — but he has been the centerpiece of the team for three years. He just signed a five-year, $75 million extension and gave a plug for signing Kane during his news conference Monday.

“I don’t know what I can say to persuade his decision, but obviously we’d all be so excited to have a player like that (and) also a guy like that,” Bedard said.

What Connor wants, Connor gets.

The party-boy image of Kane’s younger days is far removed. His first child, Patrick Kane III, is 5 and was a toddler when Kane was dealt to the New York Rangers three years ago.

After three seasons in Detroit, Kane has shown he still can be a valuable forward, but no one should expect him to be the same player he was in Chicago when the mullet was still high fashion. The hope is he can help mentor Bedard, fill the seats at the UC and maybe even get the Hawks on TNT and ESPN more often.

Playoffs? Obviously that’s the stated goal, but we’ll see.

What’s the downside? Only that Kane might start showing his age and go out with a whimper, as happens to even the best of athletes. At least Michael Jordan’s sad ending was in Washington, where we didn’t have to pay attention to it.

Kane’s legacy in Chicago is secure, but no one wants to see him become an average player on a losing team. He scored 57 goals in 189 games over his three years in Detroit, including 16 last season in 67 games.

Kane reportedly had a choice between Buffalo, his hometown, and Chicago, his adopted hometown. The Sabres are a solid team that should compete for a Stanley Cup title, while the Hawks will be lucky if they’re in a race for a wild-card spot.

Since he already has his name etched on the Stanley Cup three times, maybe going out with another isn’t a high priority for Kane. Or perhaps the Hawks made him an offer he couldn’t refuse.

Either way, he’s now the co-star of a rebuilding Blackhawks team, just as he was back in 2007 with Jonathan Toews. The difference, of course, is that Bedard is unquestionably the face of the franchise now, and the Hawks aren’t expected to contend during Kane’s two years.

Maybe having Kane around can take some pressure off Bedard, who has been eclipsed by Macklin Celebrini, the 20-year-old San Jose Sharks star. Celebrini finished fourth in the league with 115 points (45 goals, 70 assists) in only his second season and played for Canada in the 2026 Olympics in Italy.

Bedard had career bests last season with 30 goals and 75 points in 69 games, but he can take it to another level.

Maybe this is the best path for both. One is looking to rekindle past glory, and the other is trying to become a franchise icon. The new partnership of Kane and Bedard has all the trappings of an epic buddy comedy, like Brad Pitt teaching Timothée Chalamet how to rob a casino.

It should be an interesting winter at the UC, watching this drama unfold.

And after years of watching the slow-motion rebuild on the West Side, that’s probably all we can ask for.

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