For his NHL comeback following hip surgery, four-time All-Star Patrick Kane has decided to play for the Detroit Red Wings for the remainder of the season. The championship-chasing team was the first to entice Kane, who has agreed to a prorated $2.75 million contract; the source spoke on condition of anonymity because Kane has not yet signed
After the Blackhawks and New York Rangers he joined after a pre-deadline trade, the Red Wings are set to become Kane’s third Original Six team.
Kane is trying to join defenseman Ed Jovanovski and center Nicklas Backstrom as the only players to return to the NHL after undergoing an invasive hip operation. After that, Jovanovski only played in 37 games, and 47 games into his attempt, Backstrom left the Washington Capitals due to concerns about the condition of his artificial left hip. It seems unlikely that he will return this season.
The procedure, which tennis player Andy Murray underwent as well, entails removing cartilage, trimming, capping, and dislocating the upper end of the thighbone before placing it back in its proper position. It was estimated that Kane would need four to six months to recover and get rehabbed.
The Red Wings, led by general manager Steve Yzerman, are currently in third place in the Atlantic Division and have an 11-6-3 record through 20 games. Adding Kane would give them even more momentum. Detroit is attempting to snap a seven-year postseason drought, which is the team’s longest since the 1970s. Detroit won the Stanley Cup eleven times between 1936 and 2008.
