Patrick Kane has chosen his team for the 2023-24 season and the hope is he will be able to carry the Detroit Red Wings to the playoffs after signing a one-year, $2.75 million deal, according to multiple sources.
‘I think there’s still a little bit to do to get it to fruition here,’ Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde told reporters.
The history is there for Kane to have an impact with the Red Wings. He is the top-scoring American player (1,237 points in 1,180 games) since joining the league in 2007-08 after being selected No. 1 overall in the 2007 NHL draft. He ranks third overall during that time behind the Washington Capitals’ Alex Ovechkin and Pittsburgh Penguins’ Sidney Crosby. He had 92 points two seasons ago.
Kane, 35, also won three Stanley Cup titles with the Chicago Blackhawks. He was the playoff MVP in 2013 and won the Hart Trophy in the 2015-16 season.
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But he is coming off hip resurfacing surgery during the offseason. Though recent videos showed Kane going through intense workouts, Capitals star Nicklas Backstrom is taking a leave of absence to determine his future after having the same surgery during the 2022 offseason.
Despite a bothersome hip last season, Kane hit the 20-goal mark for the 15th time. But his 57 points were his lowest total outside of the lockout-shortened 2012-13 season. He finished last season with the New York Rangers after being traded before the deadline and was limited to six goals in 26 games between the regular season and the Rangers’ first-round loss to the New Jersey Devils.
What the Patrick Kane signing means for the Red Wings
Kane will reunite with Alex DeBrincat, his former linemate on the Blackhawks. DeBrincat had two 40-goal seasons while in Chicago. He started with 10 goals in seven games this season in Detroit before slowing down. Kane wasn’t able to recreate the magic with former Chicago teammate Artemi Panarin in New York, but his hip issues contributed to that.
The Kane move shows general manager Steve Yzerman continues to be aggressive in his bid to end Detroit’s seven-season playoff drought. In recent years, he has added DeBrincat, David Perron, Shayne Gostisbehere, J.T. Compher and now Kane. Kane had other choices for where he would sign — Lalonde mentioned that the forward talked to eight to 10 teams — but considering he wanted to play for a contender, that says something about faith in the Red Wings’ direction.
‘Obviously a brilliant hockey mind,’ Lalonde said. ‘You can tell he’s watched us a lot. … There’s still some hurdles to go. Even if it does happen, I think there’s going to be some time here, a level of patience and certainly from us as a coaching staff, going forward.’
