The Detroit Red Wings enter the Christmas break with a record of 16-14-4. The Red Wings were in a playoff position just one month ago. This caused free agent Patrick Kane, coming off a hip resurfacing surgery, to sign with the team. The fact that he is friends with Alex DeBrincat is another factor in the 35-year-old signing former Chicago Blackhawk Patrick Kane. The Red Wings have fallen out of a playoff spot during this time, however.
This is not the fault of Kane, though. In the nine games that Kane has played for the Red Wings, he has scored four goals and added five assists. The connection between he and DeBrincat was evident from the first shift the two played together wearing the winged wheel. The inability for Kane to score right away could be chalked up to the fact that he had not played hockey in over 200 days. One would not fault Kane for being frustrated.
In 10 games played so far this season, the Red Wings are 2-7-1 with Kane in the lineup. This cannot be attributed to Kane on the offensive side of the ice. After struggling to score in his first few games as a Red Wing, Kane has put up four goals and added four assists in his last five games. According to Hockey Reference, Kane has a 50.5% Corsi For percentage, which indicates that he controls the puck more when he is on the ice. This is in addition to the three takeaways and two blocked shots that Kane has on the defensive side of the puck.
Defensive issues still prevail as the Red Wings try to make the playoffs for the first time in seven years. This is in addition to the number of injuries that have cropped up as of late. A goaltender cannot be blamed if the team in front of him is not in a position to prevent the offensive team from having scoring chances. One blue-liner that has taken a step back under second-year head coach Derek Lalonde is Moritz Seider. The hockey world has adjusted to the defensive play that saw him be the first Calder Trophy winner for the Red Wings since goaltender Roger Crozier in 1964-65.
ITR 26: 2 Nations Fighting – Inside The Rink
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