Red Wings Veteran Hitting Record Low

Wiht a full offseason to prepare, the Detroit Red Wings were counting on getting the Patrick Kane of old this season. Instead, it’s looking more like they’re getting an old Patrick Kane.

The 36-year-old Red Wings forward has gone nine games without a point entering Saturday’s home game against the Toronto Maple Leafs. That’s a career-long drought for the future Hockey Hall of Famer. Previously, Kane had never gone more than seven games in a row without a point.

Patrick Kane's hands are just way too smooth… 🤩 pic.twitter.com/UTFyQhF3Hq

— NHL (@NHL) December 10, 2024

So what’s the problem? Allow Kane to count the ways as to why he’s not counting any points.

“I think for me, definitely this year, I gotta be more demanding with the puck,” Kane explained. “I gotta find ways to get it more, get it on my stick and do what I can when I get it.”

Why isn’t Kane getting the puck on his stick? Earlier this season, he seemed to be suggesting that he wasn’t a big fan of the way Detroit coach Derek Lalonde has them defending leads during games.

“I think guys are trying to be responsible, right?” Kane said at the time. “They’re trying to play smart defensively, but there’s still ways to make it tough on them by playing the offensive zone, not giving them easy pucks back or easy possession, holding on to it, keeping it below the goal line.

“So that’s just something we need to develop in our team.”

One way to make that happen is to let skill players such as Kane make use of their skill. He seems to be ready to make that a priority going forward.

“I don’t think I’ve had the puck enough this year, so that’s on me to demand it and get it back and be good on the forecheck and things like that,” Kane said.

Injuries Not A Factor

Kane was missing for five games recently due to an upper-body injury. There’s been some speculation that he’s trying to play through the injury and that’s impacting his performance. Kane flatly denied he has any such issue.

“Body feels good,” Kane said. “It’s nothing with that. So I guess that’s one positive out of the whole thing.”

Red Wings, Kane Need To Prove They’re Able

Kane, who has 3-7-10 totals in 24 games, needs to get going and so do the Red Wings, 1-4-2 over the past seven games. And there’s no time like the present.

“Obviously the production hasn’t been there, so it’s been disappointing and probably a big reason why we’re in the position we are as a team,” Kane said. “You’re here to produce, you gotta produce and it’s not happening right now.

I’ve never been so confident that a player will score against the Leafs than I am that Patrick Kane is scoring tomorrow night pic.twitter.com/HGAvztHKRo

— Zach Payne (@ZachPayne41) December 13, 2024

“All you can do is look yourself in the mirror, come into practice, work hard, try to get better, and try to make the next game your game to break through. But I think at this point it’s kind of like maybe you’re hoping for things to happen and it’s just not a good thing when things are going like that.

“You gotta go make it happen.”