Patrick Kane is speaking highly of his Detroit Red Wings experience.
“It’s been great,” Kane said of his time in Detroit. “Nothing but positive things to say about the organization, the coaches and the team in here.
“Really happy with the decision to come here.”
That being the case, Kane is offering no inclination that he’s ready to turn this five-month stand into a long-term relationship.
“I think just with the situation I was in and coming in and being here for maybe three-quarters of the season or whatever it was, it’s just this year and then we’ll see what happens,” Kane said.
Certainly, it’s working out well for all parties. Following radical hip surgery, Kane was joining the Wings in December on a deal covering the remainder of the season. He’s definitely been delivering the goods. His goal in Tuesday’s 2-1 loss to Washington gave him 20 in a season for the 12th time as an NHLer.
“He’s been great,” Detroit coach Derek Lalonde said. “The offense he’s produced, the leadership he’s brought, the presence he’s brought to the room, he’s been everything as advertised.”
Red Wings Performance Silences Kane’s Doubters
The Red Wings were among the few clubs willing to take a chance on Kane still being himself following his hip resurfacing procedure. Proving to be the Kane of old, he’ll likely be find himself entertaining offers from plenty of suitors if he’s entering the open market as an unrestricted free agent.
“I haven’t really thought about it much,” Kane said of what’s ahead for him this summer. “Obviously it’s in the back of your mind. It’s gonna come up eventually.”
The major question mark surrounding Kane’s future, his health, is no longer an issue.
“The thing is I’m not feeling pain on the ice,” Kane said. “That’s a lot different than what I was used to the past couple of years, two and a half seasons.
“Obviously feel like it’s going to get better and better as time goes on, which is exciting.”
The chance to be adding a proven to be healthy Hart, Art Ross and Conn Smythe Trophy winner figures to be appealing to plenty of teams that will be figuring they are Stanley Cup contenders entering the 2024-25 season.
Kane’s camp will likely be fielding plenty of offers. How will the Red Wings be stacking up against these other opportunities? That will be the challenge facing Detroit GM Steve Yzerman. That’s assuming his determination is leaning toward keeping Kane in the fold.
“Obviously, it’s not an easy decision on deciding where you want to play, where you think you’d fit best,” Kane admits. “Hopefully all that stuff figures itself out.”
More must-reads: