It’s time for another round of NHL rumours. We’ve started the Stanley Cup Playoffs, but the teams didn’t make the post-season are still being talked about. General managers are hoping to bolster their rosters to make the playoffs. The run up to July 1 is coming soon and GMs are trying to figure out who to bring back next season. One team that’s trying to figure things out is the Detroit Red Wings. This edition of NHL rumours deals with one player that may come back for another season.
All NHL rumours come from the original source and are subject to change.
NHL Rumours
Detroit Red Wings Looking to Bring Back Veteran Forward
Rumour: NHL.com’s Dave Hogg looked into the future of veteran forward Patrick Kane with the team. Kane is an unrestricted free agent come July 1.
Analysis: Kane had another solid season with the Red Wings, who missed the post-season for the ninth straight season. However, Kane put up a second consecutive 20-goal season in Hockeytown. Detroit had signed the 36-year-old to a pair of one-year deals and it’s time for contract talks to happen once again.
Kane addressed the media during the team’s exit interviews. He said that talks are yet to take place between the two sides. However, there seems to be mutual interest from both sides in continuing this partnership. He said, “I think there’s definitely some mutual interest in coming back and continuing on here.”
His numbers may have dropped from last season, but he still played an important hand on Detroit’s special teams. Kane notched 29 power-play points and helped the Red Wings finish fourth in power-play efficiency at 27-percent. Keeping Kane seems to be something in general manager Steve Yzerman‘s to-do list.
What It Means
Kane just hit the milestone 1,300th game for his career. He did allude to wanting to get to 1,500 career games when he talked to the media. The multiple-time Stanley Cup winner wanted a multi-year deal, but decided to go with an incentive-laden contract that was another one-year pact.
One wonders if there will be another one-year contract on the horizon. However, Kane may have played well enough to get the added security of a two-year agreement. The Buffalo native has also said that family is also enjoying their time in the Motor City. Kane’s son has also been a fixture in the Wings’ locker room and has cozied up to Alex DeBrincat.
One other thing the Red Wings want to do is get back to the playoffs. Detroit came oh-so-close in the 2023-24 campaign, but took a step back in the most-recently completed season. The pressure is on Yzerman and the rest of the team to finally break through much like the Ottawa Senators did this season. Red Wings’ fans are hoping that Kane will be a part of the solution the finally nets them a playoff spot.
There’s plenty of time for things to work out before July 1. However, some fans are hoping that Kane will be back next season.
