"It was Fun to Be a Wing": Patrick Kane Expresses Gratitude for Opportunity in Detroit, Uncertainty Around Future

Now a free agent, will Kane build on a successful return from major hip surgery with the Red Wings or elsewhere?

The Red Wings two biggest pending unrestricted free agents, David Perron and Patrick Kane, spoke one after the other at the team's locker clean out day on Thursday afternoon.  

The first—Perron—made his desire to remain in Detroit despite his expiring contract unambiguous.  “There’s no reason at this point to think about anywhere else or anything else,” he said “I hope it works out.”  The second—Kane—kept his future plans more open-ended.  

"It was a great year," said Kane.  "I have nothing but positive things to say about the organization.  Obviously the opportunity from Steve [Yzerman] and [Derek] 'Newsy' [Lalonde] to give me the chance to come and play, and the situations I was put in, I feel like I got a lot of opportunity to play in the top six, power play, play with some great players.  It was fun to be around the group.  It was fun to be a Wing and in this organization.  I'll definitely have some memories to last me a life time"

Particularly with Perron's unqualified enthusiasm providing immediate contrast, it became hard to ignore Kane's use of the past tense in describing his relationship to the Red Wings—"it was fun...."

His response about Detroit's future as an organization showed a similar disassociation from the team with which he spent his last season.  "I think they're in a great spot," he said. "The situation with the young players. Larkin, his competitiveness. Young players stepping up at the right times and playing so well in the important games. Seider. Raymond. DeBrincat. I'm sure I'm missing—Edvinsson. These guys coming up, they're so young, and they still have so much to give to the game, but they're impact players right now in the most important games...I think the future's really bright for the team."

Here, it was hard not to read into the way he said "they" and not "we" are poised for a bright future.  Of course, as a UFA, Kane is perfectly entitled to take his time in deliberating over the next step of his career, which could reasonably lead him out of Detroit, and it makes some sense that he might feel measure of disconnect from the group without a contract for next season.  

His comments did make clear that he does hold his time with the Red Wings in high regard, but, again with Perron as a stark foil, Kane said he intends to "explore" his options this summer and "see what makes sense." 

When asked what factors would be his biggest priorities with respect to his free agency decision, Kane replied, "It's hard to say right now because everything is so fresh with the season being done.  I think coming into this year my decision was based on playing on a good team, a team where I thought I fit in well, obviously the comfort with playing with Alex [DeBrincat] again was something I was looking forward to and really enjoyed that as well.  As the season goes on, you realize there's a lot of good players here and a lot of good players to play with."

He added that he will be thinking about questions like "how will I fit in with the team?" and "who would I play with?" before noting that "I think from being in Chicago for so long, going to New York, coming to Detroit, maybe looking for a little bit more stability as far as term, but I think the right situation matters too."

Whether it is only season in Detroit or the first of many, there can be no denying the success of Kane's '23-24 campaign with the Red Wings.  When he debuted in December, he was attempting to make an unprecedented comeback.  No NHL player had done it with any serious degree of success.  Kane proceeded to score 20 goals and give 27 assists for 47 points in 50 games.  He was Detroit's most dynamic attacking player, and he kept scoring the kinds of big goals in big moments that have defined his career and bestowed him with the nickname "Showtime."

Even considering the unambiguous success the season provided, Kane believes his season to come will be even better.  "The surgery's over, the rehab's over, and now I can train like an athlete this summer, which I haven't done in the last few years, which is exciting for me," he said Thursday.  "I can work on my explosiveness.  I can work on evening out my right and left side...Excited to have a summer to train like athlete again, and the job's not done.  It's something I'll probably have to keep an eye on the rest of my career."  He added that this year he felt "pain free but probably still need some of that explosiveness back."

When asked how many years he intends to keep playing, Kane replied cheekily, "I think I could play a long time to be honest with ya.  I'm 35 but maybe play til I'm 40.  Who knows?  You just keep playing.  With the situation I'm in now, I'm pretty optimistic."

Now, some time between today and July, Kane will have to decide whether he wants to spend those years to come in Detroit.

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