The Hockey News’s Adam Proteau was trading Patrick Kane away from Detroit a week ago, but today, he’s suggesting that the Red Wings extend Kane’s contract for another season:
Patrick Kane, RW, Detroit Red Wings
If the Red Wings are intent on making the playoffs – a long shot for this season – they will need to keep Kane in the fold. Like most of the Wings, Kane has struggled this season, posting just seven goals and 17 points in 32 games. But he’s clearly bought into GM Steve Yzerman’s plan, and a decent contract extension shouldn’t be all that difficult for him to obtain. The 36-year-old is making $4 million, but he’s not looking to break the bank on a new contract. A slight raise should be able to keep him in the fold.
Continued; there have been a significant amount of trade proposals regarding Red Wings players over the past three weeks, mostly involving the Buffalo Sabres’ top players, but it’s a lot of fluffernutter.
I don’t see the Wings and Sabres making a significant trade unless “the stars line up” and both teams find good fits in terms of both salary and compensation, and that’s bloody difficult to do.
If the Red Wings do choose to “buy” or “sell,” it’s far more likely that they’ll stay out of their own division when doing so.
