Dietz: Friday's home opener could be Kane, Toews last one in Blackhawks sweaters

For every pro athlete, there's something special about the home opener.

No matter the expectations, everyone seems to have a little extra jump. And, in many cases, a whole lot more nerves.

In the Chicago Blackhawks' case, we are staring at a potentially historic evening when Luke Richardson's squad squares off against the hated Detroit Red Wings at the United Center on Friday.

Nobody can predict the future, but it seems like a good possibility that this will be the last time the Hawks begin a campaign at the UC with both Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane in Indian Head sweaters.

Enjoy every moment because, before you know it, we'll be speculating which teams are most likely to trade for Kane and/or Toews for a run at the Stanley Cup. (Assuming both waive their no-movement clauses).

Toews and Kane broke into the league together in 2007. Kane's first home opener - incredibly enough - came against the Red Wings. (Toews' NHL debut came four days later.) The 4-3 shootout win over Detroit ranks as Kane's most memorable opener.

"Savvy (coach Denis Savard) ended up calling me to go first," Kane told me three years ago. "Went down on (Dominik) Hasek and scored. That was like my first goal in the NHL, if you want to call it that.

"So that was a pretty cool home opener for me."

This will be Kane's 16th home opener and his 1,111th NHL game, which is quite the appropriate number as he's been the Hawks' offensive ace almost the entire time.

If Kane plays five more full seasons in Chicago, he has an excellent chance to become the franchise's all-time leader in games played, assists and points. He would need to average 35.3 assists, 57.5 points and 58 games to pass Stan Mikita in each category.

Eclipsing Bobby Hull's 604 goals would probably necessitate seven or eight more campaigns.

Home openers normally bring out the best in Kane. He has 8 goals and 12 assists in those 15 games. Four of those helpers came in a video-game-like 10-1 victory over Pittsburgh on October 5, 2017.

"It's always exciting," Kane said this week. "(It's) just the new season and playing in front of the crowd - the full crowd for the first time - is exciting for a game that means something. Just everything that goes with it: The player introductions, being out there in warmups, playing your first game at home.

"It's a good feeling."

For Toews, this will be his 14th home opener and his 1,018th NHL game. The captain is off to a strong start, notching 2 goals in the first three games. This after not scoring until Game 26 last season.

Toews finished with career lows in goals (12), assists (25), rating (minus-14) and average time on ice (17:29).

If Toews is truly rejuvenated, there are at least a half-dozen contenders that would love to add him to the mix. He'd be a perfect third-line center who can kill penalties, add some offense and bring a whole lot of experience and calm into a playoff locker room.

But that's all for another day.

For now, the focus is on Friday.

Die-hards can enter the United Center atrium as early as 3 p.m. for the Hawks' first red carpet event since 2019. Celebrities will arrive at approximately 4:30. Players will make their way through the crowd shortly thereafter.

This may be difficult for some fans, but the next time Toews and Kane are together on this red carpet they may be the celebrities in suits.

Indeed, an incredible era is likely ending right before our very eyes.

So soak it in and scream your thanks if you can.

Toews and Kane certainly deserve it after all they've done for the franchise.

For the city.

For the NHL.

And, most importantly, for you - the fan.