When Patrick Kane said he’d be undergoing a hip resurfacing procedure in June, it became clear he wouldn’t sign a new contract anywhere until deep into his recovery, closer to the start of the 2023-24 season. That’s exactly what happened – more than two months into free agency, the three-time Stanley Cup champion remains unsigned but, if you ask him, is ahead of schedule in his return to playing health.
Now, in the dog days of summer, rumors have been ramping up about where the longtime Blackhawks winger might end up. The Colorado Avalanche, Dallas Stars and New York Islanders were named as potential suitors by The Fourth Period’s David Pagnotta last month, while the Chicago Daily Herald’s John Dietz reported yesterday a desire to reunite with former teammate Alex DeBrincat may influence Kane to sign with the emerging Detroit Red Wings – if they come calling, that is. There’s been no reporting to suggest Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman has interest in acquiring Kane.
What remains a complete unknown is what Kane is willing to take in terms of payment on his next deal. He won’t receive anywhere close to his previous $10.5MM AAV, but how low is he willing to go on a one-year deal to join a potential contender? He’s also one year away from being eligible for a 35+ contract, meaning he cannot receive performance bonuses on a contract signed for this season.
The answer to that question could very well determine his options. If he wants something with more significant compensation, Colorado or Detroit will be his two options among the reported potential destinations. The Avs still have around $2MM in cap flexibility as captain Gabriel Landeskog is destined for LTIR, per CapFriendly, while the Red Wings have slightly over $5MM in space remaining. Dallas or New York wouldn’t be able to accommodate much above the league minimum $775K salary unless a corresponding trade is made.
The Buffalo Sabres, Kane’s hometown team, remains a wildcard option. There’s been nothing concrete connecting the two parties throughout the offseason, however – it remains just speculation.
Signing Kane would give Detroit a bonafide core of four top-six wingers with him, DeBrincat, David Perron, and Lucas Raymond, but is Kane still going to be able to handle first-line minutes on a playoff team without the star-studded help he had around him with the New York Rangers post-deadline last season? Given his pre-injury decline and recovery from such a severe procedure, it’s a fair worry to have.
All that said, we ask you, PHR readers: Where do you think Kane will end up when he signs for the 2023-24 season? Vote in our poll below:
If you can’t access the poll above, click here to vote.
KHL!
@Nha Trang – If not for the red lights that held me up in digital traffic, I was going to chime in with the unthinkable – the European Tour! You beat me to it. Well played! :)
I see teams like VGK, FLA, and CAR making an effort to sign him (even with limited cap space). My dark horse though is going to be Seattle if they can make the cap work.
Are bridges burned between the Blackhawks and Kane? They have the cap space and they need to be competitive before Bedard finishes his ELC
I think he wants another cup, so probably goes to a contender. Chicago won’t be a contender by the time bedard’s elc is up
I would think the bridges are not burned, but there is no real shot of Kane coming back to the Blackhawks. He wants and deserves a chance to win now. The Blackhawks are, at minimum, 3 years away from being competitive and slightly further away from contender status. They have some nice young prospects, along with Bedard, who will need time to grow into their roles. Much like Kane, Toews, Keith, and Seabrook did.
Comes back to NYR to give it one more shot. Drury finds a way to clear enough space because he’s in love with Kane.
Is the “other” 29% the Rangers???
If Kane wants to go to a Cup contender, he isn’t signing with the Red Wings. They probably aren’t even a playoff team in the East.
Avs need it to be them at this point. While the team will remain good for a few more yrs, the Cup window will be continually closing as the star contracts continue to come due.
Agree. All depends if Kane takes a discount or not to play there.
In the current global climate Kane would be taking great unnecessary risks to sign with the KHL, At the end of the day there’s no guarantee that he comes back at all, Successful surgery is one thing but the rehab process can cause numerous setbacks and Kane is 35 years old.
He will wait till midseason and sign with the rangers
Who cares this is going on to long .. Sign with team already…You are not worth the $$$ you want Patty…
Kane is rehabbing from off-season surgery. No team is going to sign him until they can see him skate and he will likely wait until he can see who the real contenders are during the season.
If it personally happiness. It will be detroit /buffalo. If it trying for cup. Whoever looks like they have a chance and want to sign him.
Detroit or Buffalo
Buffalo before Detroit if they get a good goalie!
Worth remembering that Detroit isn’t necessarily a new place for him. He lived there for 3 years playing AAA and NTDP.
EDM