Agent: Patrick Kane in 'no rush' to sign contract
Unrestricted free agent Patrick Kane is not in any hurry to choose his next destination.
Kane is one of the top remaining UFAs, but his situation is unique: He underwent hip resurfacing surgery June 1 and was given a four-to-six-month recovery timeline. If Kane requires the full six months, he could miss the first quarter of the 2023-24 campaign.
So it's possible Kane may wait to sign until he's fully healthy. His agent, Pat Brisson, has no issues playing the waiting game.
"There's no rush. This is one I'm very comfortable with. I'm very calm," Brisson told ESPN's Greg Wyshynski. "You could offer me a one-year deal or a two-year deal right now at $7 million or so. I don't even know if I want to entertain it, because it's not what he needs. We'll see, at the right time, how he feels, where he's at, and then we'll take it from there."
Brisson added that teams have called with interest in his client.
Kane, who will turn 35 in November, recorded 21 goals and 36 assists across 73 games between the Chicago Blackhawks and New York Rangers last season. While he's only one year removed from a 92-point campaign, there are questions about how he'll perform after the surgery.
His rehab appears to be going well, though.
However, Washington Capitals playmaker Nicklas Backstrom underwent the same procedure last offseason and didn't look quite like himself in 2022-23, posting a career-worst 0.54 points per game with seven goals and 14 assists in 39 contests.
By waiting to sign until the season is underway, Kane will have a better idea of which teams are contenders. And even with three Stanley Cup rings, playing for a competitive club is likely high on Kane's wish list.
But waiting also has its drawbacks. Interested teams may not want to bank on landing Kane and may pursue other options. Cap flexibility could also be an issue. If Kane waits until the season is underway to sign a contract, his cap hit will be prorated, meaning it will be higher than his actual earnings.
The latest example was Evander Kane, who signed with the Edmonton Oilers midway through the 2021-22 season. His total salary was $1.375 million, but his cap hit was $2.1 million.