The Patrick Kane contract sweepstakes have announced their grand prize winner. It has been a suspenseful process but has reached its conclusion. After recovering from offseason hip surgery, Kane has decided to join the Detroit Red Wings on a one-year, $2.75M contract. This a huge boost to their lineup, to have a playmaker like Kane in their lineup.
Sounds like Kane deal is one year at $2.75M
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) November 28, 2023
Patrick Kane Signs Deal with the Red Wings
This is a deserved contract for Patrick Kane. Hip surgery is a serious surgery to have. However, Brad Marchand had double hip surgery and recovered just fine. Marchand managed to play 3/4 of the season and did well for the Boston Bruins. The same could potentially be said for Kane. Detroit is able to take a chance on the winger and have his impact in the lineup. It is great for Kane who is healthy and wants to play hockey still. He may not be the same $10 million dollar player that he was, but he is worth every penny that the Wings have given him.
What This Means For Kane
When it comes to premier playmakers in the NHL, few come close. As Patrick Kane signs with the Red Wings they are adding a huge piece. Kane is an eight-time 50-assist man. Moreover, last year, his ailing hip hampered his output, recording 57 points split between the Chicago Blackhawks and New York Rangers. Still a decent total. Previously, in 2021-22 a healthy Kane put up 66 assists and 92 points. It has been evident of his abilities simply by the output of Chicago linemate Alex DeBrincat. DeBrincat put up 41 goals twice receiving saucers from Kaner but dropped down to 27 a year ago with the Ottawa Senators. Needless to say, Patrick Kane is one of the great playmakers and quick hands the sport has ever seen. A glance at the leader scorers back to his 2007-08 rookie season is proof.
| Name | Points |
| Sidney Crosby | 1302 |
| Alexander Ovechkin | 1299 |
| Patrick Kane | 1237 |
| Evgeni Malkin | 1162 |
| Anze Kopitar | 1087 |
| Steven Stamkos | 1076 |
What Does This Mean for the Red Wings?
It means that their power play is instantly better. If Kane can rekindle the chemistry with DeBrincat, it will really get the offence rolling. Once you add a player of Kane’s calibre to the lineup, the matchup game invariably gets easier. Also, playing with a player like DeBrincat, look for Kane to see a resurgence in his offensive output as well. As we mentioned, he is only a season removed from 92 points. Prior to that, Kane had been well above the PPG mark since 2018-19. Furthermore, adding the three-time Stanley Cup Champion to your roster is a pre-Christmas bonus. Kane wants another run at the cup, and who knows, maybe the Red Wings will go on a run?!
Main Photo: Danny Wild-USA TODAY Sports
