The Detroit Red Wings are the team that veteran winger Patrick Kane has chosen to join. Emily Kaplan of ESPN reports that Kane and the team reached an agreement for a $2.75 million, one-year contract.
This offseason, Kane has been a free agent; however, he has chosen to wait to sign with a team until after his June hip surgery to heal. Following the news that he would be able to play again in December, Kane initiated contact with a number of teams that were interested in signing him.
Kane reportedly met with a number of teams, including the Buffalo Sabres, Florida Panthers, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Boston Bruins, with the intention of signing with a playoff contender. But in the end, he chose the Red Wings because of their coach, Derek Lalonde, and because he could play with Alex DeBrincat, a former teammate of his in the Chicago Blackhawks.
With the addition of another playmaker, Kane is anticipated to give Detroit a significant boost as they attempt to compete with the top teams in the Atlantic Division. With an 11-6-3 record, the Red Wings are currently sixth in the standings, six points behind the Boston Bruins.
Nearly his whole career, Patrick Kane was a member of the Blackhawks, where he helped the team win three Stanley Cup titles. The previous season, he was traded to the New York Rangers before the NHL trade deadline. In 1,180 NHL games, Kane has 451 goals and 786 assists.
