Detroit Hockey Now’s Bob Duff discusses the positive intangibles that Patrick Kane brings to the Red Wings in terms of team “swagger,” suggesting that Kane’s influence upon the Wings might be similar to “Pudge” Rodriguez’s influence upon the Detroit Tigers:
Top MLB players began following Rodriguez to Detroit. That, coupled with a strong influx of homegrown talent, propeled the Tigers back to prominence.
Certainly, the Red Wings were further along the rebuilding curve upon Kane’s arrival last November. Definitely, that was playing a role in his decision to re-up with the club.
“My heart was set on being back with Detroit,” Kane said. “I feel like it was, it was a good fit for me, but I also feel like it was a good fit for the team and I feel like I fit in well with the lineup and with the players and the guys. So I was looking forward to just kind of building on what we went through last year.”
Already, Kane’s decision is having positive ramifications on the roster. Forward Vladimir Tarasenko, the club’s biggest offseason addition, was admitting that Kane’s presence was helping to convince him that Detroit was the place for him.
“I talked to Kaner,” Tarasenko said. “There is a lot of guys who used to play in St. Louis, a lot of familiar faces. They all say only good things about Detroit, the city and the team. That’s why we decided to come.”
Continued; I concur with Duff. The Red Wings aren’t exactly a free agent destination yet, but Kane’s definitely helping the Wings slowly but surely attract free agents like Tarasenko and Gustafsson.
