Patrick Kane wants to stay in Detroit and the Red Wings seem like they’ll be glad to have him. And on the surface, you’d think, “Why wouldn’t they?” Kane’s been a fine player for this team as they continue to try and prove they’re playoff-worthy.
He finished fourth on the Wings in points this past season with 59 to go with 21 goals in 72 games. Kane’s 12 power play goals prove he’s still a threat to score on opponents regardless of the situation, and while he’s not the player he was during his prime in nearby Chicago, he could be capable of giving the Wings another year or two of solid play.
But there’s also a potential downside here, since Kane’s now two years removed from a hip resurfacing procedure, and the fact he’ll be in his age-37 season for 2025-26. With so much at stake regarding Steve Yzerman’s job in what will be a pivotal campaign, is extending Kane as good of an option as it seems?
Why extending Kane is a great idea for Steve Yzerman and company
This season, the Red Wings proved they still need sound leadership and guidance from players who’ve accomplished all there is to accomplish in the NHL. And Patrick Kane epitomizes that, having won three Stanley Cups with the Chicago Blackhawks and transforming into a leader during his career there.
As a team that isn’t quite where it needs to be, the Wings must put themselves in an ideal position to play to their strengths. They’ll do that with Kane, whose performance on the power play helped make Detroit among the best and most feared teams in the league at 5-on-4. It would be hard to replace Kane’s output when the Wings go on the man advantage next season if he wasn’t there.
Kane’s also shown he can still log top-six minutes and produce moderately well. While players like Vladimir Tarasenko had fallen off, Kane’s ice time and productivity remains. So, if Yzerman extended Kane, I wouldn’t have too many qualms about this move, but I would have concerns.
Risks for extending Kane involve age, drop-off
It’s great to have a 37-year-old back for another year as a leader, but for a team still in building mode, Kane’s not somebody who’d fit Detroit’s long-term plans. That said, his presence would get in the way of a prospect or a younger free agent who could prove a good fit. And one who’ll be in Detroit when this franchise figures things out for good.
For another, that massive drop-off in production’s coming sooner rather than later. Is it wise to extend Kane for a significant but manageable salary, only to risk seeing his production fall into Tarasenko territory? As each year passes, the odds for that drop-off increase.
For the Wings to mitigate this effect, Kane needs to agree to a more generous salary and one that won’t last longer than a season. Should his play suffer, Detroit could trade him elsewhere, meaning we can’t see a full no-trade clause.
And finally, if his play backslides and there’s a prospect rising through the ranks, the Wings must put more emphasis on giving that prospect more ice time.