from Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press,
Kane suggested he may want to play till he's 40. Teams aren't likely to give him more than two years in term since he turns 36 a month into next season. As regards money, before Yzerman can offer a new contract to any of his unrestricted free agents — a group that also includes David Perron and Shayne Gostisbehere — the GM needs to know how much he has to commit to restricted free agents Lucas Raymond and Moritz Seider. Then there's weighing whether the Wings might be better off having money to spend in free agency, because both star forwards Sam Reinhart (28 years old and coming off a 57-goal season) and Steven Stamkos (34, with 1,137 points in 1,082 career games) project to be available July 1.
It will likely take around $8 million annually to attract Stamkos, and around $9.5 million annually to attract Reinhart. Kane maybe can be had for closer to the $5 million range. Other teams are likely to show interest — the Vegas Golden Knights, for one, if Jonathan Marchessault walks away in free agency. In Boston, the Bruins hung on to Jake DeBrusk at the trade deadline, but the $4 million forward is a pending UFA. In Chicago, Kane was greeted with a raucous welcome when he led the Wings into United Center back in February, and he would be a spectacular mentor for young Blackhawks star Connor Bedard.
Kane will mull his decision, but he does have some parameters that the Wings fulfill.
"Coming into this year, my decision was based on playing on a good team, a team where I thought I fit in well," he said. "The comfort of playing with Alex DeBrincat again is something I was looking forward to and really enjoyed. As the season goes on, you realize there’s a lot of good players here, there’s a lot of good players to play with. I was put in a great situation to succeed. I was really appreciative of that. I think it will be similar going forward, too — how will I fit in with the team, who would I play with, things like that.
"From being in Chicago for so long and then New York and then coming to Detroit, you’re looking for a little bit more stability as far as term. But the right situation matters, too."
more ($)
It's my understanding that Chicago's management have already said NO to Kane, and that probably won't change. I'd love to see him back, but not for more than $5ml and two seasons. Maybe less than that with more term (3x$4 or so).
Like I mentioned yesterday Hockeybuzz said Kane won't be coming back to Detroit, but Hockeybuzz is often wrong.😑
After his last press conference, I also said Kane is gone as he was talking about the Wings as the team in his past. I do not think Hockeybuzz has any more inside scoop than we do after just listening to the guy.
The linked article in the Hockeybuzz post was from April 19th. Since that time we have Kanes well-played end of the year post that at least wraps up with a work to be done - LGRW ending. I still think that, if all things were equal, he wants to be here. It is going to come down to term (He does not want to play for multiple teams like Jagr or Iginla in the twilight of his career) and then money.
7 game winning goals, 18:23 TOI, 18 of his 20 goals were even-strengthed. And you're fighting for a playoff spot where 1 point could again make the difference. Sorry, but I remember the team from 2 years ago that couldn't score. Give me the player that spurs offense and gets teams to back off when the puck is on his stick.
That's going to cost--especially when it occurred from a player playing a shortened season. And that player hasn't been able to train, but only rehab the last 3 summers, but can train this summer?
I don't understand why not give him 4 years. Unless there is no plan for this team to be a max cap team. Players "retire" by going on LTIR for reasons including the classic jersey sweat issue. If the concern is risk of injury: it's an absolute joke. Give him the term. Tampa and Vegas laugh at the notion of cap compliance.
It's his hockey IQ and his hands--not his skating ability that makes him valuable. I remember a 4th liner Hall-of-Famer that had those same attributes that was playing late into his career in Detroit that had just one #8 on his jersey.
Seider's and Raymond's contracts should be signed and sitting in a drawer in LCA somewhere just waiting for the salary cap to be finalized so they can be announced.
Im with you on this one DCA. Give Kane the term. He said he wants to play until 40. If his body holds up, Im sure he will pull it off. If his body doesnt hold up, well, thats what LTIR is for.
If Reinhart "only" costs $9.5, we should obviously go after him first, but the risk will be not getting him and Kane will be gone by then.
It's hard to believe Reinhart will sign anywhere but Florida for less than $10M. I'm not sure the Wings can fit him in.
Kane 3 years $4.75M per. Take it or leave it.
Jeff Petry has joined Team USA for the World Championship.
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