After winning his second career Stanley Cup, forward Brad Richards would embrace an opportunity to return to the Chicago Blackhawks.

Following the team's rally at Soldier Field on Thursday – where Richards jokingly suggested teammate Patrick Kane could persuade management to retain his services – the 35-year-old explained how he would like to return to Chicago, despite understanding the hard work the team's management has in the coming days.

"I don't know," Richards told Scott Powers of ESPN. "I know (Blackhawks general manager) Stan (Bowman) and my agent are probably going to have a discussion. I think before I do anything I’m always going to call in and check in to see if there’s anything we can do here, just because it's such a special place now and winning. I also know how much work they got to do here in the couple weeks before July 1 and all the different stuff that has to go on.

"I just got to be patient and see where all that goes. It's a lot easier to sit back and relax and watch this when you just won a Stanley Cup. Last year I was a little nervous, and I wanted something to happen right away. Now I can be patient, and I'll figure all that out once I get my bearings again here."

The Blackhawks have four restricted free agents from their Cup-winning roster, including Marcus Kruger and Brandon Saad, to contend with this summer as well as the $10.5 million contracts of Jonathan Toews and Kane kicking in. So balancing the team's budget could be difficult.

Richards signed a one-year, $2 million deal with the Blackhawks last summer after being bought out by the New York Rangers. Richards' linemate Kane is hopeful the team will be able to retain the veteran center.

"He’d be a guy that you’d love to see come back here and play in that second-line center role," Kane said. "I think the coaches got more familiar with him, he got more ice time. But he’s a good hockey player. He’s a good guy, but he’s a good hockey player."

Richards had three goals and 14 points during the team's Cup run.