Patrick Kane Sets July 1 Decision After 57-Point Season
Patrick Kane is heading toward July 1 as an unrestricted free agent, and the Red Wings need a decision from one of their top scorers. He finished last season with 57 points in 67 games. Detroit already knows what it loses if he walks away.
Kane and Detroit's scoring
Kane said there is mutual interest in a return, and he made his preference plain: “I’d love to be part of the solution that helps us get over the hump for sure,” he said. He also said, “(There’s) interest to come back, continue my career here.”
That ask lines up with what Detroit got from him on the ice. Kane finished fifth on the Red Wings in scoring, and he added 14 points in 13 games in March while the team was collapsing. He also passed Mike Modano earlier in the season to become the American-born player with the most NHL points, then became the 24th player in league history to reach 1,400 points near the end of the season.
McLellan on Kane and DeBrincat
Coach Todd McLellan was blunt about the value Kane brought during a miserable stretch. “In a miserable month, he’s kind of the bright spot, something to cheer about, getting excited for,” McLellan said. He added, “Five on five, he and Cat (were) by far two leaders in that category,” before finishing the point: “And we are obviously short in that kind of scoring.”
That shortage is the complication hanging over Detroit’s offseason. The Red Wings struggled at even strength, and Kane and Alex DeBrincat led the team in even-strength scoring from the Olympic break on. Kane and DeBrincat also combined for 40 even-strength goals, which was the kind of production Detroit leaned on while it was officially out of the playoffs for a 10th consecutive season near the end of the year.
Larkin sees the fit
Captain Dylan Larkin said the connection between Kane and DeBrincat looked familiar. “They find each other so well, similar to when they played in Chicago,” he said. “It’s impressive.” He added, “Those guys drive offense.”
Kane’s own numbers show why Detroit wants to keep the line intact. He has 57 goals over three seasons with the Red Wings and has missed 57 games in that span, so the organization has seen both his scoring touch and the availability risk that comes with it. If he returns, Detroit keeps a proven source of offense; if he leaves, the team starts July with one more hole to fill and little margin to replace what he produced.
