Red Wings sign Patrick Kane to 1-year, $2.75M deal

The Detroit Red Wings won the Patrick Kane sweepstakes.

The coveted free-agent winger signed a one-year, $2.75-million deal with Detroit after recovering from offseason hip resurfacing surgery, the team announced Tuesday.

Since he signed two months into the campaign, Kane's earnings will be prorated. The deal also includes a full no-trade clause, according to CapFriendly.

Kane met with several teams but was impressed by Red Wings head coach Derek Lalonde's details and vision for the team, per ESPN's Emily Kaplan.

The move reunites Kane with former Chicago Blackhawks teammate Alex DeBrincat. The two played together in the Windy City for five seasons from 2017 to 2022 and were frequent linemates during DeBrincat's last three campaigns as a Blackhawk. DeBrincat currently leads the Red Wings with 12 goals in 20 contests while producing at a point-per-game pace.

A three-time Stanley Cup champion (2010, 2013, 2015) heading into his 17th NHL season, Kane was keen on signing with a contender. The Red Wings are in the midst of a seven-year playoff drought, but as of Tuesday, they sit in third place in the Atlantic Division with an 11-6-3 record.

The Kane signing follows a busy offseason for general manager Steve Yzerman, who added the likes of J.T. Compher, Shayne Gostisbehere, Klim Kostin, and DeBrincat in the summer to try to get Detroit over the hump.

Kane amassed 21 goals and 57 points in 73 games last season - split between the Blackhawks and New York Rangers - for the poorest statistical campaign of his career. However, the veteran was battling a nagging hip issue throughout the year.

The 35-year-old underwent hip surgery in early June and was given a four-to-six month recovery timeline. Washington Capitals forward Nicklas Backstrom went through the same procedure during the 2022 offseason but has since struggled with lingering hip issues.

Backstrom announced in November that he would be stepping away from the team to deal with his ailment. Soon after, Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan said he didn't expect Backstrom to play again this season.

One of the most prolific players in Blackhawks history, Kane spent the first 16 seasons of his career in Chicago before being traded to the Big Apple this past February. He chipped in with one goal and six assists in seven playoff games before the Rangers were eliminated by the New Jersey Devils in the opening round.

Kane ended his Blackhawks tenure near the top of virtually every category in the franchise's all-time record books, including second in assists (779) and points (1,225), as well as third in goals (446) and games played (1,161).

On top of lifting Lord Stanley's Mug three times, Kane won the Conn Smythe Trophy in 2013 as the most valuable player in the postseason after collecting nine goals and 19 points in 23 games. He also took home the Calder Trophy as the league's top rookie in 2008, as well as the Ted Lindsay Award, Hart Trophy, and Art Ross Trophy in 2016 after leading the league with 106 points.

Kane also met with the Buffalo Sabres, Florida Panthers, Dallas Stars, and Boston Bruins this past month, according to Kaplan. The Rangers and Toronto Maple Leafs showed interest as well, per Johnston.

The Red Wings' next game is a clash against the Rangers on Wednesday, but it's unclear at this point when Kane will make his season debut.

Detroit will also face Kane's hometown team, the Sabres, next Tuesday.