The New York Rangers pending UFA’s surgery has been reportedly complete. Patrick Kane‘s agent, Pat Brisson announced a four-to-six month timeline to recover, per Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman. The Patrick Kane injury hindered him this season.
Patrick Kane’s representative, Pat Brisson, says Kane had a hip resurfacing today under Dr. Edwin Hsu. As is normal, follow-ups are planned, but roughly 4-6 months recovery is expected. Brisson says Kane “wants to play for a long time,” and doctors are optimistic that will happen
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) June 1, 2023
Patrick Kane Undergoes Surgery
Kane was a member of the Blackhawks’ 2010s dynasty, registering over 15 seasons with the franchise. His 1,161 games played in Chicago ranks third all-time amongst Blackhawks. In addition, Kane tallied 1,225 points in the Windy City, ranking second all-time in Chicago.
However, nothing lasts forever in hockey. The end of Patrick’s time in Chicago isn’t one to remember. The franchise had no true direction and all of the core had moved on. Blackhawks’ Captain, Jonathan Toews and Kane refused to be apart of a rebuild in Chicago.
These circumstances took a toll on Patrick’s relationship with the organization. The New York Rangers ultimately acquired Kane on February 8th, 2023. General Manager, Chris Drury stirred mixed feelings amongst fans bringing in a 34-year-old Kane.
Kane was fighting a lingering hip injury for months and this was public knowledge throughout the league. Not to mention, Drury had acquired Vladimir Tarasenko from the St. Louis Blues a couple weeks beforehand.
In the end, Patrick potted five goals and seven assists for 12 points in 19 regular season games with the Rangers. Additionally, Kane added one goal and five assists in seven playoff games.
What This Means For “Showtime”
The Rangers don’t have much wiggle room with the salary cap. Furthermore, New York must use this space to re-sign pending RFA’s K’Andre Miller and Alexis Lafreniere. It’s very likely Kane hits the open market in July 2023.
The Patrick Kane injury hindered his season. But there’s room for optimism. As for Kane’s future, his agent told Friedman that Kane “wants to play for a long time.” However, doctors are optimistic that will happen. Moreover, Kane reportedly struggled with his nagging injury throughout his tenure in New York.
One potential landing spot for Kane in the off-season is his hometown team, the Buffalo Sabres. The franchise just missed a playoff birth by a hair this past season. Kane’s dynamic puck skills to compliment the strong offence may be the missing piece to push them into contention.
Main Photo: Danny Wild-USA TODAY Sports
