Patrick Kane is back and contributing for the Red Wings, but his return raises questions as to how to get the most out of the lineup
Patrick Kane is back and contributing for the Red Wings, but his return raises questions as to how to get the most out of the lineup
In their stint together earlier in the season, Patrick Kane and Alex DeBrincat came as advertised. Two cerebral hockey players who understand each other’s moves. Chemistry like no other for a Red Wings team with tons of turnover the past two seasons.
With Kane back in the lineup, the Red Wings’ forward corps gained a significant playmaker, and he’s already off to a hot start. Through two games, he’s got an even-strength goal and two power play assists for his efforts. Such production is a major benefit for the Red Wings as they continue fighting for their spot in the playoffs.
As Kane plays at a high level, his success begs the question of where to put him in the lineup — or rather, who to put with him. So far, Kane has played on the second line with J.T. Compher and David Perron while longtime linemate DeBrincat continues to play on the first line with Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond. However, Kane and DeBrincat have reunited on the second power play unit.
But considering their track record of success, does it make sense to put Kane and DeBrincat together at even strength, too?
Detroit coach Derek Lalonde seemed to grapple with that dilemma midgame against the Oilers. He started the game with DeBrincat on the first line and Kane on the second. But by the end of the first period, the duo skated a few shifts with center Joe Veleno, as well as Larkin and Compher during the rest of the game. In other words, Lalonde grabbed a test tube and experimented to find some more 5-on-5 offense, and the DeBrincat and Kane look was one of the considerations.
Such a decision makes a lot of sense given the duo’s resume and even their recent impact. Both of Kane’s power play assists have come with DeBrincat in the mix, with both of them generating chances on the flanks. They share the puck well and understand each other’s decision-making better than a lot of other duos, which lends itself to success on the power play. So, that lends itself to success at 5-on-5. That’s what Lalonde seemed to try and harness with their shift alongside Veleno, which came directly after the trio scored a power play goal.
But at even strength, there are more considerations than just rote scoring. As two offensive gunners, Kane and DeBrincat together doesn’t always lead to defensive success, but this can be assuaged with planned usage. Lalonde knows this — Kane and DeBrincat field the most and second-most offensive zone starts, respectively, among Red Wings skaters. Accordingly, they generate the fourth and second-highest percentage of on-ice expected goals. They don’t need to be defensive stalwarts, they just have to create more chances than they might surrender.
Yet, at this point in the season, depth might rule the day for Lalonde and his team rather than trying to click together a scoring line. With DeBrincat on the top line and Kane on the second, they spread out their offensive toolkits in a way that’s harder for opponents to match. The Red Wings could play for an overload mismatch by pairing them together, or opt to chip away at their opponents shift by shift. Pick your poison, but what matters most is that they’re scoring.
All told, this really comes down to how Lalonde projects that Kane and DeBrincat can provide scoring. If we imagine a formula where each line generates a certain level of offense, the Red Wings want to maximize the sum. So if Kane and DeBrincat generate X offense and the other top six line generates Y, the question is whether X and Y add up to a greater sum than that of their individual lines when split up. That’s how lines are created, but it’s a constant consideration for players as skilled as Kane and DeBrincat.
Considering the lineup from this perspective, it also matters that Kane and DeBrincats’ teammates are scoring, too. That’s another area that they can provide value if they’re separated. DeBrincat and Larkin have clicked together all season, leading the team in total expected goals that often come from plays cooked up together. Meanwhile, Kane can bring more offense out of Compher and Perron. His even strength goal against the Oilers, for example, came off a nifty feed from Compher because Kane found open space to the right side of the net.
Regardless of who goes where for 5-on-5 play, having Patrick Kane back in the lineup opens up a lot of options. That’s why his signing mattered so much for the Red Wings, and that’s why it’s important that he’s back in the lineup whether he’s with DeBrincat or not.
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