The Detroit Red Wings are keeping their key midseason acquisition in the fold. The team announced that they’ve re-signed veteran forward Patrick Kane to a one-year contract. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed by the team but Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports (Twitter link) that the deal carries a base salary of $4MM and could cost as much as $6.5MM if his bonuses are all met. The structure of the deal is as follows:
$4MM base salary
$1.5MM at 10 games played
$250K at 60 games played
$500K if his team makes the playoffs
$250K if he records 60 points and his team makes the playoffs
Pierre LeBrun of TSN and The Athletic reports (Twitter link) that the deal also contains a full no-trade clause.
Earlier today, Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff reported increasing potential for a Kane extension in Detroit while noting that the Montreal Canadiens were prepared to take a run at him if he eventually made it to the open market. Instead, Based on the report from Friedman, Kane will extend his time in Motown for the time being.
After making a return from offseason hip resurfacing surgery, Kane had plenty of suitors as he made his way through the courting process. The veteran talent ultimately landed with the Red Wings on a one-year, $2.75MM contract while reuniting with his former teammate, Alex DeBrincat. Not only did Kane prove he could still be serviceable to any team around the league, but he showed that he could still be a legitimate top-six talent.
In 50 games for Detroit after signing the one-year agreement, Kane would score 20 goals and 47 points while aiding the Red Wings on one of their first playoff hunts in the last several years. Unfortunately, Kane and the team would fall short after losing the tiebreaker in the Eastern Conference wild-card race to the Washington Capitals in the final game of the regular season. With the Red Wings squarely aiming for a playoff berth during the 2024-25 NHL season — Kane appears ready to help with that pursuit.
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman first reported that a deal was expected to get done. Pierre LeBrun of TSN and The Athletic first reported the one-year agreement.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
LGRW! Great news!!!
He can still do it, a great player. Get him a Center
Stamkos next?
BRENNAN MCCLAIN check the first line in the last paragraph.
No way Habs you don’t meet requirements contenders only
Great re-signing. But the problem with the Wings is that they still lack a true 2nd line center. A legit playmaker who can set up his wingers. Assuming Larkin is your number one. They have no number two center.
JT Compher and/or Andrew Coop are not second line center material. Stevie Y has to see this by now doesn’t he? I can’t figure out why he hasn’t gotten a legit number two center. It’s bizarre.
I think they need a 1st line center and play Larkin as 2C. I like Larkin a lot but he’d be on the second line on a contending team.
Great move, and for only a year? Couldn’t have imagined this scenario happening before free agency as of a few weeks ago. Hopefully Kane fulfills every incentive mentioned, definitely has a strong chance to do so.
Interested to see what follows, Stevie Y definitely has the space/assets to make some more waves.
*fair chance, strong may be a bit boisterous considering how stacked the east might still be. Great time of year to be a fan of a team who narrowly missed the playoffs and is shifting past the rebuild phase.
Stamkos inbound.
Pretty team-friendly for nearly a point a game. I’m surprised Kane didn’t think he had a better shot for more money or term. It just might be that he felt pretty at home in Detroit.
I totally agree Grocery stick.
Stevie should have went after a guy like Mark Scheifele when he was rumored to be available via trade. He’s a proven point a game type of player. Those guys are hard to find. It would have changed the dynamic of the team up front.
But Stevie probably doesn’t consider him a “200 foot player” the new buzzword phrase sweeping the league.