Red Wings Kane Still Proving He’s Able

From a purely physical standpoint, Patrick Kane is quite pleased with his first five games for the Detroit Red Wings.

“Physically all good,” Kane assessed of his body in his return from hip resurfacing surgery. “Still trying to get my legs more than anything, but everything feels pretty good.”

When he looks at the numbers next to his name on the stat sheet – one goal and one assist – the good feeling soon dissipates from Kane’s psyche.

Pyotr Kochetkov nearly gets a primary assist on a could-have-been go-ahead goal by Patrick Kane, but the #Canes netminder recovers in time.

The reaction from fellow former netminder @KevinWeekes is gold. 😂 pic.twitter.com/bv5pUzAwD5

— Walt Ruff (@WaltRuff) December 15, 2023

“I think especially for what I was brought in here to do, you gotta produce,” was Kane’s blunt assessment of his own performance. “If you get those chances it’s great but you gotta be able to finish them. So hopefully the timing’s coming back a little bit and just when I get those chances, be ready to bear down and finish them.

“You don’t want to keep getting chances and passing them up.”

In that regard, Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde is willing to give Kane a Mulligan for the time being. Taking into consideration he hadn’t played since last April, along with who his linemates have been lately, Lalonde thinks Kane might be blaming himself a bit too much.

“With all our centers out, it’s probably not what he signed up for but he’s done a real good job,” Lalonde said. “When we start getting bodies back I think he’s going to be a really good contributor for us.

“What you guys don’t even see in the room, he’s been very valuable.”

Red Wings To Split Up Kane, DeBrincat

Certainly, teaming up again with Alex DeBrincat was a key factor in UFA Kane choosing Detroit. They were a dynamic duo in Chicago, but have clicked for just one goal with the Red Wings.

For the time being, Lalonde is going to try Kane and DeBrincat on separate forward lines. At practice Friday, Kane was skating with Michael Rasmussen and Compher. DeBrincat was working with Joe Veleno and Lucas Raymond.

The Red Wings are expecting Compher to play Saturday at Philadelphia against the Flyers.

THERE IT IS!

PATRICK KANE'S FIRST AS A RED WING! pic.twitter.com/8MObViy2Ke

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) December 10, 2023

Lalonde retains confidence that once Compher and captain Dylan Larkin are back from injury, the Kane who was good for 92 points two seasons ago with Chicago will begin to re-emerge.

“I hope so,” Lalonde said. “You’d think so. He looks good, the opportunities are there.

“If he continues to produce chances, Grade-A type of chances like he is, that timing keeps coming around, I certainly hope so. It certainly looks like he’s trending that way.

“We’ll get some bodies back. When we start getting some of these centers back it’ll help him.”