Where could Patrick Kane fit into the Chicago Blackhawks lineup?

Had he gone to, say, Buffalo or Toronto, Patrick Kane might have slotted in somewhere in the middle six, a complementary piece to provide a little extra scoring punch on the wings. In Chicago, Kane will be a much bigger deal — and not just because of his history with the organization. Even at 37 years old, Kane immediately becomes one of the best forwards this generation of Blackhawks has seen. He figures to slot right in on the top line, and to stay there when Connor Bedard returns from his shoulder surgery, likely in mid-November.

But what does that mean for the rest of the lineup? The Blackhawks already were a bit overloaded at forward. Two weeks ago, when we did the first version of this roster projection, the lineup seemed pretty well set. But the ripple effect of Kane’s arrival is significant.

Here’s our best guess at what the forward lines look like with Kane in the mix:

Without Bedard

Roman Kantserov — Frank Nazar — Kane

Tyler Bertuzzi — Anton Frondell — Nick Lardis

Ryan Donato — Oliver Moore — Teuvo Teräväinen

Jordan Greenway — Ryan Greene — Cole Smith

Extras: Landon Slaggert, Andrew Mangiapane

It’s hard to imagine any scenario in which Bedard and Kane don’t at least get a long look playing together, but with Bedard likely to miss the first six weeks or so of the season, Nazar is the likely beneficiary. It’s an interesting combination. Nazar is exactly the kind of center Kane always wanted to play with while he was in Chicago — blazingly fast, able to push the defense back with mad dashes through the neutral zone and create space for Kane to work his magic. Kane, of course, isn’t as fast as he used to be, but his unrivaled instincts and his general disregard for the defensive zone should allow him to keep up fairly well. Rookie Roman Kantserov can play either wing, so Kane’s arrival on the right side pushes him to the left. It’s also possible that Kantserov centers his own line, even if it’s just for the short term. He did play a fair bit of center in Russia.

Lardis showed promising chemistry with Bedard late last season but gets bumped by Kane. He can slot in with Frondell and Bertuzzi to form a second line with a little of everything: Bertuzzi’s nose for the net, Lardis’ sniping and Frondell’s one-timer and two-way game.

From there things are a lot less certain. Jeff Blashill liked what he saw from Moore at center, and his puckhound tendencies make him an intriguing option as a checking-line center. Putting him on a line with reliable veterans Donato and Teräväinen could free up the top two lines for more favorable matchups. Greene spent his rookie season stapled to Bedard’s left side, but he projects more as a responsible bottom-sixer than a productive top-sixer. The physical Greenway and the speedy Smith could join him to form a reliable fourth line that can play as little or as much as Blashill needs on any given night.

Slaggert and Mangiapane likely would have gotten a real chance to prove they deserve a regular spot in the lineup during Bedard’s absence, but Kane’s arrival bumps them down another notch, and they’ll likely be fighting just to be the 13th forward.

With Bedard

Kantserov — Bedard — Kane

Bertuzzi — Frondell — Lardis

Moore — Nazar — Teräväinen

Donato — Greene — Smith

Extras: Greenway, Mangiapane, Slaggert

Kane’s first game back in Chicago with the Blackhawks will be highly anticipated, but his first game with Bedard could be even more so. Kane has a skill set unlike any Bedard has had on his wing so far. Kane’s playmaking ability could unlock Bedard’s game in new ways. Kane has a history too of connecting well with right-handed shots. Whoever plays with Bedard and Kane will have to be defensively responsible, able to win pucks and capitalize offensively. Kantserov did that in the KHL. Time will tell if he can do that in the NHL, but he could be given that type of opportunity. Kantserov’s experience at center could also come in handy as Bedard acclimates himself again after his shoulder rehab.

Bedard’s return will complicate the lineup everywhere else. The plan was originally to go with Bedard, Frondell and Nazar down the middle, so Blashill could revert to that. How Frondell adapts at center in a larger sample size and whether Moore continues to play better at center than wing could factor into that.

Bedard’s return will ultimately squeeze one player out, and who that player is could depend on form. Teräväinen has something to prove after last season. Greenway is being brought in for his physicality, but is that enough to keep him in the lineup? Greene’s faceoff ability and two-way play could retain him a spot, but that’s not definitive. Mangiapane and Slaggert would have to really show something to stay in. Blashill could be facing some difficult decisions.

The power-play unit should also be intriguing with Kane joining the mix. The top unit could be Bowen Byram as the quarterback, Bedard on the left side, Kane on the right side, Kantserov in the bumper and Bertuzzi at the net. That would bump Frondell to the second unit, and that could also include Nazar, Lardis, Teräväinen and either Artyom Levshunov or Sam Rinzel.

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