Coming into this season, no one knew what to expect when it came to Patrick Kane.
There were more questions than answers. How was his hip going to respond to the surgery? Could he be an impact player in the NHL this season? What team was he going to sign with?
It is safe to say that the answers to all of these questions are good ones. On Tuesday, November 29th, Kane, 35, signed a 1-year, $2.75 million contract with the Detroit Red Wings, and since then, everything has been more than great for both Kane and his new team.
For starters, Kane has been more than a point-per-game player this season. He has 30 points in 28 games on 12 goals and 18 assists.
Kane has been on fire as of late for his hockey club. He is currently on a 9-game point streak, and in that span, Kane has five goals and nine assists for 14 points. He also has five multi-point games during this stretch.
Not only is he producing, but Kane is also coming up big for his new hockey club. He already has four game-winning goals, and whether it comes in regulation, overtime, or the shootout, Kane is more than prepared to shine when it matters most.
His production and ability to come through in the clutch have provided a big boost to the Red Wings, who are looking to make the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time in a long time. The team has done a lot in February to help their case as they are currently 7-2 with one more game left to end the month, which is on Thursday night, February 29th, against the New York Islanders at Little Caesars Arena.
If the season were to end today, the Detroit Red Wings would be in the postseason. As of this writing, the Red Wings are fourth in the Atlantic Division, sixth in the Eastern Conference, and 11th in the league with a 33-20-6 record for 72 points.
Skating-wise, Kane looks great. He can skate with some speed and does not appear to be in any kind of pain, which is huge considering the kind of surgery that Kane had in the offseason.
What’s more is that Kane has enjoyed playing for the Red Wings. After his team’s emotional 3-2 overtime victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday night in Chicago, his first time back in Chicago since being traded to the New York Rangers last March, Kane told reporters how great it has been playing with the Red Wings.
“This group has been unbelievable to me, welcomed me in and shared these moments,” he said. “The guys giving up the assistant captain for me today, pretty special, too. Just things like that. There’s a lot of camaraderie in this group. It feels good to score that goal. Even bigger to get a win against these guys.”
Kane and the Red Wings have been a perfect match so far. It will be interesting to see what happens in the offseason, but for right now, both Kane and the Red Wings are certainly enjoying all the success they are having together.
ITR 43: It's Winning Time – Inside The Rink
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