Discuss as you will, per 97.1 the Ticket:
With Alex DeBrincat in tow, should the Red Wings take aim at his old linemate with the Blackhawks? Gator says No. 88 would look good in Detroit:
“Here’s another name I want to throw out as a possibility. People have talked about the best years for DeBrincat were in Chicago with Patrick Kane. Patrick Kane’s a free agent.”
You want to put Patrick Kane here?
“I do. Because I don’t think he’s going to cost you much, even if it’s just a one-year, prove-that-you’re-healthy deal.”
Kane underwent hip surgery in June with an expected recovery time of four to six months. That likely puts him back in action by November. DeBrincat was a two-time 40-goal scorer playing with Kane in Chicago, and the two of them could team up with Dylan Larkin on Detroit’s top line. Kane is eighth in the NHL in points over the last five seasons, but was limited to 57 points in 73 games last year due in part to his injury.
At this stage of his career, who knows if he would be open to joining a team that isn’t yet a Cup contender. And as Karsch says, any potential contract “comes with a risk because the guy is 34 years old coming off a significant injury. The risk is that it would be a waste of resources.”
The Red Wings still have $8 million in cap space after acquiring DeBrincat. And Steve Yzerman did say Monday that he’s willing to spend to the ceiling if it makes the team better next season and that he’s “not going to rule anything out.”
