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Hyping Patrick Kane, free agent target of playoff-bound teams

Updated at 10:18 AM: Red Wings forward and pending unrestricted free agent Patrick Kane may leave the Red Wings, and he may end up re-signing with Detroit today, as he has two times before this.

But the hype about Kane as a free agent is getting a little silly. Sportsnet’s Luke Fox, who I respect greatly, believes that Kane’s text message to #1 overall draft pick Gavin McKenna is proof that Kane wants to relocate to Toronto…

Among the congratulatory messages that flooded Gavin McKenna’s phone upon being drafted No. 1 overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs on Friday, one stood out.

“Patrick Kane texted me,” McKenna said. “He’s my idol, so that was cool.”

Even cooler?

The idea of Kane — who is still putting up 0.85 points per game at age 37 — joining the three other first-overall picks in Toronto on Canada Day.

Don’t rule it out.

While Detroit Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman hasn’t closed the door, the all-time leading U.S.-born scorer is believed to be changing sweaters once again.

The Maple Leafs, captained by Auston Matthews (another boyhood Kane-iac), were keen to acquire the future Hall of Famer when he first got traded away from Chicago in 2023, and general manager John Chayka is eager to round out a forward group that has taken a significant hit since March.

I have no idea where this information is coming from, but Daily Faceoff’s Matt Larkin is buying into the hype:

Continue reading Hyping Patrick Kane, free agent target of playoff-bound teams

If Kane is able (to sign)…

The Red Wings and unrestricted free agent-to-be Patrick Kane tend to sign contract agreements on June 30th, and as such, Detroit Hockey Now’s Kevin Allen believes that if Kane chooses to re-sign with Detroit, we should see him sign another 1-year, bonus-laden contract sometime today:

Kane signed right before July 1 in each the past two seasons. With Dylan Larkin’s trade request hanging over the team and the team’s need to renovate its offense, Kane’s decision is even more critical than it was the last two seasons.

The team needs to score more goals, and this year’s free agent marketplace is short on proven scorers. If you take Larkin and Kane out of the team’s offense, then Alex DeBrincat and Lucas Raymond are the only proven Top Six forwards remaining.

Continued, with an examination of free agents available tomorrow…

I’m not certain whether Kane will re-sign in Detroit, comfortable familial circumstances and relationship with DeBrincat included…But I would suggest that it’s more likely than not that Kane will return. Maybe 60% to 40%?

Ironically, Kane’s agent is CAA’s Pat Brisson, who represents Dylan Larkin and many other NHL stars.

A heavy critique of the Wings’ rebuild via free agent talk

The Athletic’s Dom Luszczyszyn suggests that the Red Wings should “sit out” of the NHL’s free agent marketplace as the Red Wings’ outlook for the 2026-2027 season is that of a “draft lottery hopeful”:

Detroit Red Wings

Timeline: Back to the drawing board
Needs: Franchise forward, middle-six depth, two top-four defensemen
Projected cap space: $21.2 million

Here’s the ugly truth: Even with Dylan Larkin around, the Red Wings would be a lot closer to this tier than any other as the obvious worst team in the Atlantic.

That’s a tough pill to swallow after 10 straight years of futility, but it may be a blessing in disguise if the Red Wings can right the wrongs of 2022 and go back to the drawing board. The Red Wings left the accumulation stage of the rebuild too early and have paid the price for it.

Detroit needs to start re-accumulating, and fast, to time it right with the primes of Lucas Raymond and Moritz Seider. Otherwise, the Red Wings may end up right back here in five years. They’re not getting out of this jam via free agency and half measures that just lead to 80-point seasons.

Continued (paywall); the Red Wings do have an uphill climb to battle Buffalo, Ottawa and Montreal in the Atlantic Division, but I don’t believe that the Wings are a lottery team that needs to clear the decks and trade Alex DeBrincat, for example.

It’s not that bleak in Detroit.

Bultman discusses the Red Wings’ 2026 draft haul, including JP Hurlbert

The Athletic’s Max Bultman weighs in regarding the Detroit Red Wings’ 2026 NHL Draft class this morning, discussing the players who Kris Draper and the Wings’ amateur scouting staff targeted to address team needs.

Here’s what Bultman has to say about JP Hurlbert, the Red Wings’ first round draft pick, who was acquired via trading Sebastian Cossa to Utah for the 23rd overall pick.

Bultman notes that Hurlbert received a glowing recommendation from fellow WHL player Carter Bear, whose Everett Silvertips battled Hurlbert’s Kamloops Blazers on a regular basis this past season:

“Obviously, he can score, for sure,” Bear said. “He’s quick with the puck and can handle the puck well, and he has good smarts for the game. Getting to know him now, he’s a great person.”

Bear said he and Hurlbert are rooming together, which is a cool setup for the two WHL scorers.

General manager Steve Yzerman said Hurlbert was “one of a small group of players” the Red Wings estimated might be available around pick 23, before trading Cossa to Utah for that pick. And when they executed the trade and went on the clock, Yzerman said Hurlbert was “without a doubt the prospect we wanted the most at that pick.”

As with Bear, Hurlbert will need to continue to work on his skating, but he’s a natural scorer, and adding a player with that ability to the system definitely addresses a need for the Red Wings.

Continued (paywall); as per usual, Bultman’s discussion of the Wings’ prospects is worth your time.

Monarrez weighs in on Dylan Larkin’s trade request

The Free Press’s Carlos Monarrez weighs in regarding the challenges Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman faces in attempting to trade disgruntled captain Dylan Larkin:

What Yzerman needs to understand very clearly about his first fight in three decades is that this is a fight he cannot win.

Regardless of how angry he is at Larkin, regardless of how betrayed he feels, regardless of how much he wants to show Larkin who’s the boss, regardless of just about any factor you can think of, Yzerman must throw in the towel and trade Larkin to one of his preferred teams.

If Yzerman digs in his heels and refuses to trade Larkin because he can’t get what he believes is fair value in a trade with one of the few teams Larkin is willing to waive his no-movement clause for, that creates the possibility of an ugly and potentially toxic environment that could poison the Wings’ season, their future and hasten the end of Yzerman’s tenure as GM.

Monarrez paints a picture of Larkin having to come to training camp as a player who doesn’t want to be in Detroit…

Continue reading Monarrez weighs in on Dylan Larkin’s trade request

A bit more about Max and Victor Plante

Brothers Max and Victor Plante spoke with the Red Wings’ media corps yesterday, and, this morning, the Free Press’s Helene St. James took note of the comments both players made during their press conference:

The two were on a podium seated next to each other at Little Caesars Arena on Monday, June 29, fresh off the first day of development camp. It was a special moment, coming just days after the Detroit Red Wings had drafted Victor at No. 47 in the 2026 NHL draft, two years after drafting Max at the same spot.

“Coming into the week, that was kind of Detroit’s first pick,” Max said. “So I was kind of just trying to stay all week, like, ‘I hope it’s Victor.’ It ended up being it, so it was pretty surreal. Awesome we get to play together next year, but then hopefully in the future we can play on the top level together.”

The Wings didn’t have a first-round pick until they traded Sebastian Cossa to the Utah Mammoth for pick No. 23, where the Wings selected J.P. Hurlbert. Victor, 18, was part of the Day 2 haul. Like his brother Max, Victor is considered a very smart, competitive hockey player with a passion for the game.

“I think he just competes the whole time,” Max said. “I think a lot of people look at stats and stuff, and then he obviously does have quite a bit of points. But if you go and watch their team this year, if there was a guy that really flashed out to you, I feel like he was kind of the player that kind of stuck out to you, not only on the ice, but just in the locker room, too. He’s my brother, but just listening to what people talk about him, he’s a great kid.”

Continued (paywall); as St. James notes, the Plante brothers will join their eldest brother, Zam, at Minnesota-Duluth this upcoming season.

Max won the Hobey Baker Award as college hockey’s best player last season, too.

Expecting Detroit to sign a ‘journeyman’ in goal

Detroit Hockey Now’s Bob Duff and I agree on at least one point: we both believe that the Red Wings will sign a veteran goaltender of some sort via the free agent marketplace, which opens up tomorrow at 12 PM EDT.

Duff suggests that the Wings need to sign a goaltender who can serve as a back-up to John Gibson and/or someone to push Michal Postava and Trey Augustine in Grand Rapids, and I believe the same point:

[Red Wings GM Steve] Yzerman won’t be looking to sign someone like Cam Talbot, last season’s backup to John Gibson. Talbot would expect to be an NHL goalie.

Yzerman will be looking for a goalie who is more versatile in his destination choices. They will want to ink a netminder who is capable of playing regularly in the NHL, but will also be comfortable in the AHL, serving as a mentor to incoming rookie Trey Augustine.

“We’ll look at all the various options leading into the free agency period and offseason and decide what is the best option for us to go with John to start the season is,” Yzerman said.

As Duff suggests, the Red Wings will give Michal Postava a long look during training camp and this upcoming season’s exhibition games, but they will require some insurance in goal:

If Postava continues to shine through training camp and the NHL preseason, no worries. He’ll be starting the season as part of Detroit’s goalie tandem.

However, if Postava hits a rough patch and struggles, having that journeyman veteran, another goalie in the system with NHL games on his resume, will prove invaluable.

Early praise for JP Hurlbert

Detroit Hockey Now’s Kevin Allen suggests that the Red Wings’ 23rd overall pick in this past weekend’s 2026 NHL Draft, one JP Hurlbert, should be considered among the team’s top 10 prospects already:

Based on how impressive he was (42 goals and 97 points) in his rookie Western Hockey League season and the fact that he will play this fall for an elite Michigan team, we are starting Hurlbert at No. 10 on Detroit Hockey Now’s Red Wings Prospect List and will adjust accordingly after we watch him until Christmas. But his scouting reports are too encouraging to ignore his potential.

…

“Obviously (Hurlbert) can score for sure,” said Detroit prospect Carter Bear who played against Hurlbert “He’s quick with the puck and can handle the puck well and he has good smarts for the game.” Bear and Hurlbert are roommates at the Red Wings Development camp. “Just getting to know him now,” Bear said. “He’s a great person. . . it’s going well so far.”

Even though the Red Wings claimed Hurlbert with the No. 23 pick in the first round, some draft analysts had him as high as 11th (The Hockey News, Ryan Kennedy).

The Blazers are a storied Canadian junior team and yet Hurlbert is only the third Kamloops rookie to score 40 or more goals. None of Detroit’s forward prospects have put up numbers like Hurlbert. Is he a can’t-miss? Of course not. Hurlbert was not a top five pick. Hurlbert is 18. He needs to work on his skating and other skills. He needs to prove his scoring touch translates to the college and then professional games. But scouts do like his NHL potential.

“He shows real good offensive instincts — he knows how to score goals,” Detroit assistant general manager Kris Draper said. “He can make plays.”

Continued

Tweet of note: Red Wings decline to submit qualifying offers to Carter Mazur, several Grand Rapids Griffins players

Updated at 12:57 AM: From NHL Puck Report on Twitter: The Detroit Red Wings’ qualifying offers were posted this evening, and, for some reason, the Wings didn’t qualify Carter Mazur. I can’t imagine that they’re going to let him walk for nothing, but we shall see:

Here’s a bit from the Hockey News’s Michael Whitaker:

NHL clubs had until 5 p.m. ET on Monday to submit qualifying offers to their pending restricted free agents, and the Detroit Red Wings have made their decisions.

Defenseman Simon Edvinsson and 2019 seventh-round (191st overall) pick Carter Gylander were the only players to receive qualifying offers from the Red Wings. At the same time, 2021 third-round (70th overall) pick Carter Mazur was among the many players who were not offered one. 

By extending qualifying offers, the Red Wings preserve their matching rights if either player signs an offer sheet with another club once free agency begins at 12:00 p.m. ET on July 1. Both players also have the option of accepting their qualifying offer or continuing negotiations on a new contract with Detroit. 

Update: Here’s Detroit Hockey Now’s Kevin Allen’s take…

Continue reading Tweet of note: Red Wings decline to submit qualifying offers to Carter Mazur, several Grand Rapids Griffins players