The Detroit Red Wings have slowly started to slip away in the playoff race. It felt like a postseason berth was almost imminent in 2023-24 with the way the team was playing a month ago. Now, here they are, in a position where they are unlikely to make the playoffs. They're scratching and clawing to stay alive in the postseason race.
While this may not have been the Detroit Red Wings' goal in the eyes of leadership, it could make things harder heading into 2024-25. It sounds crazy to suggest, but not making the playoffs could prove to be a bigger burden than it seems, beyond the simple fact of missing the postseason.
It seems that it would make things a bit tougher when it comes to signing free agents and wooing players to stay with Detroit. General Manager (GM) Steve Yzerman has done a fantastic job of keeping the core together, but he needs to ensure that one of the new faces sticks around.
The Red Wings need to re-sign Patrick Kane. It seems like the right move to keep him around with this team, and I hope that he can latch on with Alex DeBrincat to help the team's offense moving forward. Detroit needs big things from its offense, and having Kane back in 2024-25 would be huge. But a missed postseason could scare him away.
Detroit Red Wings missing the postseason could scare off Patrick Kane.
Some folks out there are more concerned with firing Derek Lalonde and Steve Yzerman. The anger is misplaced and, frankly, just a lapse in judgment—that's my opinion. Yzerman has the chance to dig this team out of the dirt, and 2023-24 just may not be the time to do it. After all, he did not expect the postseason berth in 2023-24.
But if he wants to keep his offense intact next season, keeping Kane is a priority. But they must get him to sign a new contract and stay in Detroit. It's a tough spot to be in, knowing they have some big money to spend elsewhere, but securing a contract for Kane would be important.
Kane has played in 41 games for the Red Wings, where he has scored 17 goals and added 23 assists for 40 total points. He's been good for Detroit and has been a positive factor on the offensive side of things. Keeping him around on another one-year deal would be nice -- but I have my worries.
If the Red Wings do not make the playoffs this year, Kane might be scared off. He could head for open waters and choose to try his luck with a different organization, hoping to make a postseason run in 2024-25. However, Detroit seems like the best opportunity; he just needs to trust things in Detroit.
But if Detroit officially slips out of the playoff race, things could get ugly, and Kane could be a goner.