On June 1st following the 2022-23 NHL season, former New York Ranger Patrick Kane received resurfacing hip surgery. Since then, he has spent the last 6 months recovering with periodic skates. The focus of this recovery has been physical therapy and lots of mobility work. Kane just recently turned 35 on November 19th, and as he approaches the end of his long and extremely successful career, Kane has made it clear he wants to go out with a bang.  

Kane has already won 3 Stanley Cups with the Chicago Black Hawks (2010, 2013, 2015). At the end of his 8-year contract with the Black Hawks which he signed in 2014, Kane realize that he had done all he could do in Chicago and that his time there was finished. He was traded at the deadline to the to the New York Rangers where due to his hip, he played an underwhelming season. Fans were speculating that this could signify a possible end to the old Kane; the Kane that had won championships and recorded multiple point games. 

In reality “Kane just wants to keep playing and Detroit gives him the best chance to succeed this season and earn another contract” a reporter from NHL.com says. Detroit’s standing at the time of 11-6-3 did play a small role in this decision. Kane said he would definitely “want to go to a team that’s competing for a playoff spot”. On top of this, GM Steve Yzerman gave up a large portion of the team’s salary cap to succeed in his signing at 2.75 million dollars. Alex DeBrincat, a major contributor for the Red Wings, has already played with Kane in Chicago from 2017-22, and the two had amazing chemistry. They are hoping to rekindle this chemistry so that their line may dominate. DeBrincat went on to say, “if any guy can come back from that surgery, it’s him.” The future is looking bright for the Red Wings with this superstar addition.