Travis Kelce wasn’t the first star athlete with hopes of making a Taylor Swift connection, and he may have a coach to thank for taking away that chance.  

At the moment, former Blackhawks headman Denis Savard didn’t know what he may have been costing Patrick Kane as he cut short his star’s conversation with Swift as the team was boarding the bus.

Savard, who coached Chicago from 2006-09, which were Kane’s first two years in the league, told the story during NBC Sports Chicago’s broadcast of the Blackhawks game on Friday night. 

He said he didn’t have many rules with a young team, but one involved the team bus after games.

“I said to the trainers, make sure all the players are on the bus,” Savard said. “I want to be the last one on the bus and once, I get on the bus, that way we go.”

After one particular win in Nashville over the Predators — most likely a 6-1 triumph in 2008 — in which Kane’s defensive lapse accounted for the lone goal they surrendered, the coach saw his young star talking with two girls outside the team bus.

Savard, who was already a little miffed with Kane over the play, wasn’t having it.

“I stop, and I go, ‘Really?’ I said, ‘Let’s go now,’” Savard said, as the conversation was holding up the team from leaving. “No, no. Excuse me, ladies, they’re rules on a hockey team. He needs to be on the bus now.”

Kane gave in and got on the bus but had a chat with his coach back at the hotel the next day.

“He goes ‘Savy.’ I said, ‘What’s up?’ He goes, ‘So you know, last night?’ He goes, ‘That was Taylor Swift,’” Savard said. “I go OK. I don’t care.’”

The Hockey Hall of Famer and former Blackhawks star, in his own right, admitted he had to call his wife to ask who Swift was. 

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's relationship: Here's the inside scoop

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• Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce tried to give pop star Taylor Swift a friendship bracelet with his number on it at a July 2023 Eras tour concert but was blocked from doing so.
• Swift confirmed that she and Kelce “started hanging out right after that.” 
• Swift confirmed the two were a couple by the time she attended her first Chiefs game in September, when she watched her beau score a touchdown against the Chicago Bears alongside Kelce’s family.
• Travis’ dad, Ed Kelce, called the two a “wonderful couple,” and his mom, Donna, posted a video of her hugging Swift in October.
• Travis Kelce was spotted dancing with Swift’s father at an Eras tour concert in Argentina.

At the time, she was in the early stages of his now mega-stardom.

Swift, whose relationship with Travis Kelce has the sports and music world a buzz, went on to win 12 Grammy awards.

Kane, currently a Red Wing after a short stint with the Rangers last season, won three Stanley Cups with the Blackhawks.