Patrick Kane says he hasn't thought about where he'll play next season, but he's thankful for his time in Detroit so far.
— Brad Galli (@BradGalli) April 11, 2024
"Nothing but positive things to say," he said. "It's been great being a Wing and playing at LCA, and the way the fans have embraced me." pic.twitter.com/tbRfRqg0gO
Abel to Yzerman
Patrick Kane On His Future
04/10/2024 at 10:16pm EDT
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About Abel to Yzerman
Welcome to Abel to Yzerman, a Red Wing blog since 1977. No other site on the internet has better-researched, fact-laden and better prepared discussions than A2Y. Re-phrase: we do little research, find facts and stats highly overrated and claim little to no preparation. There are 19 readers of A2Y. No more, no less. All of them, except maybe one, are juvenile in nature. Reminding them of that in the comment section will only encourage them to prove that.
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Comment by Paul in Kukla's Korner Hockey from the entry Open Post- At Least Five Hours Of Playoff Hockey Tonight - 7 hours ago
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Time to get Cheli to whisper in his ear about sticking around...
Trying not to look too deep into that quote from Kane but that does not sound a man that wants to stick around. Hopefully I am wrong.
I take it that he knows what he is worth and sees the writing on the wall regarding the Wings priorities. He likes playing here because of the role and values the organization, but the money elsewhere might be the factor--not chasing another Cup like others think.
I don't know what you could have read to get that takeaway. If anything, it seems very complimentary and beyond what I would have expected from a guy who is going to be a very in-demand FA in a couple months.
Him making statements like this, which seem genuine, really helps us when it comes time to lure UFA's down the road. We need that credibility to help show UFAs why they should sign here.
from Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press,
General manager Steve Yzerman is expected to let his pending unrestricted free agents know soon after the season ends and Kane is doing his part to make sure there's a playoff coda whether they fit into the team's future. Restricted free agents Moritz Seider and Raymond are both due hefty extensions, but even with that, the Wings would be well served to re-up Kane. On Kane's part, there's little rush to decide....
"I havent really thought about it much," he said. "Its going to come up eventually, but right now its more about being in the moment, staying in the present, being here with this team and trying to get into the playoffs. With the situation I was in, coming in and being here three-quarters of the season, its just this year and see what happens after.
"I have nothing but positive things to say about the organization and the coaches and the team in here. Really happy with the decision to come here. Its been great being a Wing and playing at the LCA and the way the fans have embraced me, its really been great. Ive been happy with everything."
more ($)
from Ansar Khan of Mlive,
He doesnt feel pain on the ice, unlike the past 2½ seasons.
Im just feeling better about my body and myself and my game, he said.
I think Im happy with my production, what Ive accomplished, but you always feel theres a little bit more in the tank. You feel like you can do a little more for the team.
He clearly has some hockey left in him. The Red Wings surely would like to re-sign him. Kane said he is focused on the playoff chase and will sort out his future in the offseason.
Obviously, its in the back of your mind, he said. Right now, its more about being in the moment, being here with this team and trying to get in the playoffs. I think just with the situation I was in and coming in and being here for maybe three-quarters of the season, its just this year and then well see what happens. Hopefully all that stuff figures itself out.
He will head into the offseason without lingering concerns about his health.
more
The bigger issue is what does Steve Yzerman do with Copp, Petry, Holl, and Fabbri? I hope he does not sign more midfielders.
Heck, I am not even sure why he did not bring up Kasper. Reese? Really?
At least re-sign Fischer. Either buyout Copp or Fabbri on the forward side. Or become creative and retain salary and move one or both to another team. Then buyout Holl or Petry. Or try to retain salary and trade Holl. Hopefully, Yzerman can get Necas or Zegras.
You can't buyout everyone so it is going to get tricky. It's unfortunate that the two worst contracts (Holl, Copp) would be very long buyouts. The best solution may be to give up some assets and/or retain some salary to move them. It is going to be tough though.
This is easily Yzerman's trickiest summer yet. It'll likely make or break his GM legacy in Detroit. He really can't afford to have the team take a step back.
I think he'll stick with Holl as Ghost will leave and that means a RHD of Seider, Petry, and Holl instead of inserting Antti Tuomisto (as he is currently the AHL RHD under contract). I don't see a RHD free agent market that will mean one takes a 1 year deal on what Detroit will have leftover cap wise.
Maatta is most likely to go as his cap hit and role (esp with Edvinsson emerging and Johansson out of waivers). What they should do is try to get value from Walman's 12 goal year in a trade if they truly like both guys.
Copp or Fabbri would be logical trade given the organizations depth at forwards pushing the AHL/NHL line (Kasper, Berggren, Soderblom, and even a Mazur)
And by now, I would have hoped Yzerman had extended Seider and Raymond.
It just doesn't work that way, most of the time. Seider I think will come fairly quick but it wouldn't shock me if Raymond takes the better part of the summer. All the Wings have to do is qualify them to protect against losing them. Then, UFAs generally take priority.
I guess I want to address the tone around here. The wild card race is still wide open. Its true the Wings havent looked great. Neither has any of these teams.
I want them to make the playoffs. I fully expect a five game, first round exit for the Wings if they make it. Thats fine. Plenty of our guys need to see, or be reminded, that championship caliber hockey requires them to find a higher gear. That would be a net positive for this team.
But for goodness sake, and god bless you all, its the last week of the season and were still in the dance. A little optimism maybe?
As far as Kane goes, how many mountains does he still have left to climb? The guy has done it all. I sort of doubt he came here for a cup in the first place. He obviously cares about his relationship with Cat, and he has a family of his own. Is moving for work (again) really something he wants? Im still willing to see it both ways. He has to play coy because its a contract year.
+19
I'm having a blast watching this team battle for a playoff spot. I almost forget how it feels when you are truly engaged in a hockey game.... when a missed high stick call really angers me... when I schedule my life around hockey (I live in British Columbia, so games are 4:00pm sometimes). This is fantastic.
My kids (11 and 9) can't remember the Wings being in a conversation for the playoffs. They love it as well.
I don't get the moaning. Crack a beer and enjoy it. 4 games left and we still have a chance. We will take Pittsburgh tonight!
+19 to this!
The worst thing that happened to this team was being 3 points behind Toronto for the #3 playoff spot. That was not the reality for this team. This is a streaky team. But it quickly became the impression that this is where the team should be.
On Kane, if you follow the Wings on social media (Instagram in particular) when they post game day content, it almost always includes Kane and DeBrincat kids side-by-side, waiting in their Red Wing sweaters for their Dads. Yes, its cute but it also shows you just how much the two families are connected. I think he genuinely enjoys being in Detroit with Alex again. I hope he stays and I hope priority is given to signing him over the other FAs on this team.
So maybe it all comes down to how much Kane's wife likes being in Detroit, and how close she is with DeBrincat's wife.
Or maybe it comes down to how much the Blackhawks offer Kane to return to Chicago to finish out his career while mentoring Bedard. His return, and the other moves Chicago makes this summer, could accelerate their return to the playoffs. And that will only be magnified if Lil' Gary manages to hand them the #1 pick again this year.
The new lottery rules mean Chicago isn't eligible for the #1 pick this year
Good point about the kids. From hockey perspective, we can talk all we want about his defense or his leadership or lack thereof, a point per game guy is a point per game guy. Sadly, Debrincat totally regressed after Kane's arrival.
I would like for Kane to stay, but I don't see it. If Kane's main motivation is to play for another Cup he'll be gone. Wings have shown us they are not Cup contenders presently and won't be for at least 3-4 years. If Kane does leave the Wings will be a lesser team unless SY can land a big FA or trade for a stud.
P.S. That's not pessimism but rather reality as it is presently.
I kind of agree. My only objection to this logic will be that not many cup contenders will have the money to sign Kane because he will be making double of triple what he is making now.
There is absolutely no rush signing Seider and Raymond. I am sure SY knows an estimate of how much it will cost and will first deal with UFAs, so I would expect any serious conversations with these two starting in mid July.The problem with buying out Copp is twofold. First, you will have to pay him for 6 more years and second, SY will have to admit a mistake and not many GMs are eager to do it. Same with Holl, will have to pay him for 4 years.I said months ago that if we make the playoffs, Kane stays and we don't, he leaves. I still think that way.
I agree about Copp and Holl. Both will be an albatross around the Wings neck unless SY manages a trade of some sort. I can see Copp as an adequate 4C if we get a true 1C or at least a capable 2C. As far as Holl goes, if he couldn't crack the defensive top 6 of the present lineup then how does he miraculously become a staple of the defense going forward?
Spot on about Holl and Copp, if they get bought out now then we have millions in dead cap money for 6 more years which should be more into our cup window. Every year you don't buy them out, you save a year of dead cap hit down the road. Let Holl stay in the press box forever, play Copp as your 4C. If you absolutely need the roster spots or cap space then waive them and save 900k of their cap hit when they clear waivers.
4C center at $5 mil per year is just too rich. I am not saying we have a good solution, but paying your 4C second line center money completely screws up the salary structure. Copp was a big mistake by Yzerman especially when we look at what Trochek does for NYR. And obviously 7 years was a bigger risk and maybe Trochek did not even want to come here or there were 10 other reasons SY ended up with Copp and not Trochek or Strome (who possibly killed our playoff chances), but the reality is Copp's contract is a big problem.
It's not just the contract. It's the role. Everyone expected he would eventually move to the wing side--but the issue is he hasn't shown he can fill that role on the 2nd line and with Kane's addition there is one less space (out of 4 available).
Too many bad contracts for Yzerman to buy out. I do expect at least one buyout.😒
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