Patrick Kane's one of those players who could retire tomorrow because he's got nothing left to prove to anyone. But he's also one of those players (excuse the echo) who's still one of the better points producers in hockey, so why not keep going?
And for the Detroit Red Wings, they need top-six-caliber players like Kane in the lineup as so many of them remain in the prospects pool. Guys like Max Plante, Nate Danielson, and Michael Brandsegg-Nygard will be ready to go in the future, but if the Wings want a chance to contend, it's key if they get the most out of aging veterans.
Last season, Kane showed up for 72 games and put up 59 points, including 21 goals. That's more than good enough for the top six, but if he makes it an entire 82-game stretch, look for Kane to hit 60 or even 65 points again, showing even more shades of the player he once was during his days in Chicago.
Kane's still one of the NHL's biggest threats on the power play
Sure, the Red Wings excelled on the power play last year, and Kane was a big part of it. Not only did he snag 12 goals on the man advantage, but Kane put up 17 assists at 5-on-4. He was also on the ice for 44 power play goals, good for an on-ice shooting percentage of 20.3, the second time in his career that Kane surpassed 20.
Expect nothing different this season, especially with the Red Wings gaining experience playing alongside one another as their core keeps growing. While Kane's days in the NHL are numbered, his impact on the power play in Hockeytown will linger long after he hangs up the skates.
Patrick Kane must provide more than points for the Detroit Red Wings to take the next step
Kane may not be a captain or even an alternate these days, but his age and experience as a three-time Stanley Cup Champion, plus the fact he may be the best American-born player in league history, means his presence commands attention. Players look up to him based on credentials alone, and if there's anyone on this team who can get something extra out of the players, it's Kane.
If the Red Wings show improvement this season over their division rivals like the Ottawa Senators and Montreal Canadiens, Kane's leadership will be front and center. Passing Ottawa and Montreal while holding off weaker but still talented teams like the Boston Bruins and Buffalo Sabres will put the Red Wings right in the playoff race.
Few players have. been as successful as Kane in that regard, even with so much on the line this season, like the possibility of a decade-long playoff drought occurring simultaneously on the Red Wings 100th season. That makes the intangible of Kane as a leader on and off the ice even more important.