The Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan discusses Patrick Kane’s situation today, suggesting that Kane could end up in Buffalo, Toronto or even Chicago. Kulfan also offers some reasons why Kane might want to leave Detroit, and they’ve got my “spidey sense” tingling:
▶ Captain Dylan Larkin’s trade demand and the likelihood Larkin has played his last game as a Wing. Without Larkin, a consistent 30-goal scorer and one of the top two-way centers in the NHL, the Wings’ path to ending a streak of 10 consecutive years without making the playoffs looks grim.
For Kane, that would mean no chance of getting another playoff run, and another opportunity to win a Stanley Cup.
Kane and Larkin also had a relationship going back to playing together on Team USA at the world championships. Not having Larkin around might be a reason for Kane to leave, also.
As I’ve told you repeatedly, Kane and Larkin share the same agent in the long-tenured power broker known as Pat Brisson, and I do believe that the Larkin situation might be holding up Kane’s decision-making process.
However, my “gut feeling” is that Kane may be holding up his decision until the Larkin situation is resolved, waiting to see whether the Red Wings are able to acquire present-day value in exchange for their disgruntled captain.
Kulfan also believes that Kane’s future may be tied to his pal, Alex DeBrincat:
▶ The future of Kane’s linemate Alex DeBrincat.
The two have been dynamic as linemates going back to their years together in Chicago. There’s no denying they have a chemistry on the ice, instinctively knowing where to locate each other on the ice.
But DeBrincat, who led the Wings with 41 goals and 85 points last season, only has one more season left before he is eligible to hit the UFA market. DeBrincat will earn $7.875 million this season and judging by the way salaries have been exploding in the NHL this summer given salary caps going up this season and beyond, it’s likely DeBrincat can reel in a $12 million per season contract, at minimum.
The Wings would likely be comfortable going that high, or somewhat higher, to retain the Farmington Hills native. But would DeBrincat, 28, be open to re-signing with the Wings if Kane and Larkin aren’t with the Wings, and the organization was facing another rebuild or retooling?
Kulfan continues, and I’m sorry, I don’t believe that the Red Wings are going to simply wait and let DeBrincat walk as an unrestricted free agent a year from now.
Detroit a) has a year to negotiate with DeBrincat, and b) can always trade him if DeBrincat waffles on re-signing here.
People are also forgetting that c) DeBrincat’s pretty well established here with his wife, three kids and family nearby. That’s more important than we might assume.
Regardless, Kane hasn’t signed elsewhere yet, and as far as I’m concerned, that’s actually a good sign for the Red Wings. He didn’t just jump at the first offer another team gave him, and the fact that we’re seven days into free agency would indicate that his decision is not an easy one.
