Patrick Kane Sends Clear Message Regarding Future With Red Wings
Patrick Kane is confident he still has plenty left to give in the NHL.
The Detroit Red Wings gambled on the veteran forward in 2023-24 after Kane spent the summer rehabbing a hip injury instead of signing with a team. As his recovery progressed, the future Hall of Famer chose to reunite with former Chicago Blackhawks teammate Alex DeBrincat in Detroit.
The move paid off for both sides. Kane played a key role in the Red Wings’ 91-point campaign in 2023-24—their strongest performance since their playoff drought began in 2017. Over the past two seasons, he has tallied 41 goals and 106 points in 122 games.
Now a free agent again, the 36-year-old Buffalo native is reflecting on a mostly successful 2024-25 season, despite a few challenges. Retirement isn’t on his mind—Kane remains driven to keep making an impact on the ice.
“I still love the game,” Kane said during his end-of-season media availability, via the official Red Wings website. “It’s my life. It’s what I want to do, what I think about every day. Whether it’s how I take care of my body, how I take care of myself, what I want to do this summer, how I want to train and what I want to look like on the ice next year. The game-to-game preparation, I love all that stuff and I’m not thinking about stopping anytime soon.”
Patrick Kane, Red Wings Open to Continuing Partnership
Kane admitted his season didn’t begin as strongly as he’d hoped, but his performance noticeably improved after Todd McLellan took over as Detroit’s head coach on December 26.
“Early on, I felt a bit unlucky and just wasn’t happy with my game,” said Kane, who went on to post 45 points (16 goals, 29 assists) in 42 games from December 29 through April 17. “But after the coaching change, the system shifted—we played more aggressively, with better connectivity, and all five guys pushing up the ice. That style really suited me.”
A major contributor to Detroit’s power play—which ranked fourth in the NHL and set a franchise record with a 27% success rate this season—Kane finished second on the team in power-play points (29).
“Our power play was strong all year,” Kane noted. “Looking back, I still feel like I left some opportunities out there. I know I have more to give. I wouldn’t call my season a disappointment, but I’m not satisfied—I believe there’s another level I can reach.”
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Congratulations to @88PKane on being named to the NHL Quarter-Century team! pic.twitter.com/8ViEIZ1EMU
Looking at the bigger picture, Kane expressed optimism about Detroit's trajectory.
"From the moment Todd took over, we were on a solid path," Kane said. "That momentum will be crucial heading into next season—having trust in the coaching staff and building on how we finished. Everyone needs to elevate their game, whether it's me improving or our young guys taking that next step. When you look at players like Simon [Edvinsson], Marco [Kasper], Lucas [Raymond], and Mo [Seider], they're only getting better—that's really exciting for this team."
As he approaches unrestricted free agency this summer, Kane didn't hide his interest in staying with the Red Wings.
"I’ll take some time to reflect, but I’ve genuinely loved my time here," Kane said. "It’s been a great place to play and continue my career. The organization has supported me through my injury and helped me find my role on the team. There’s definitely mutual interest in coming back, so we’ll see how things unfold."
Image - Rick Osentoski-Imagn
