Patrick Kane Makes Strong Case to Stay With Red Wings

DETROIT — Before coach Todd McLellan met with the media, the Red Wings public relations staff was trying fill him in about all the milestones Patrick Kane reached in a crucial 5-3 win against the Carolina Hurricanes.

“The walk wasn’t long enough to get through everything, which is remarkable,” McClellan said.

Kane scored his 20th goal of the season to give him 17 20-goal seasons. He passed Mike Modano (16) for the most 20-goal seasons by a U.S.-born skater. Kane is now tied with Sidney Crosby for the second-most 20 goal seasons among active players. Alex Ovechkin is first at 20 seasons.

Kane (36 years, 136 days) became the oldest Red Wings player to score 20 goals in a season since Pavel Datsyuk, (36 years, 218 days) 10 years ago.

But the impressive aspect of Kane’s goal is it came when the Red Wings needed it most. After Carolina cut Detroit’s lead to 2-1, Kane took advantage of a turnover to score on a breakaway to regain the two-goal lead. McLellan says NHL games are always a race to three goals.

Clutch Performer

As the Red Wings have continued to scrap for the final wildcard spot in the Eastern Conference, Kane has continued to contribute much-needed offense. Over the past 11 games, he has five goals and eight assists for 13 points.

Now four points out of a playoff spot, this is a team that is looking as if it will miss the playoffs for the ninth consecutive season.  But Kane continues to have as much hunger for a postseason as anyone on the team.

“It’s an honor to be around him and watch him play and perform, and he’s still like a young kid,” McLellan said. “It’s fun.”

Kane, an unrestricted free agent this summer, has certainly made a case for being included in next year’s plans. He hasn’t said he wants to come back, but it seems like he enjoys playing with this young team.

Kane Still Has Faith

Some fans would prefer to see the Red Wings let Kane go. The want Detroit to go strictly with  younger players. But it’s hard to see this team being better offensively if Kane goes elsewhere. He’s critical to the Red Wings’ puck possession and power play.

Kane takes pride in his game, and his accomplishments. It means something to him that he passed Mike Modano, a player he knows well.

“He was one of my favorite players, to be honest with you,” Kane said. “Obviously remember him a lot, just the way he skated up and down the ice, his jersey flapping behind him and, you know, one of the best American players of all time. So a lot of respect for him and what he’s done in this league. And obviously he broke my heart in ‘99 when they beat the Sabres in the Cup finals.”

That’s all he said about passing Modano, but he had plenty to say about the playoff chase.

“It’s a huge win against the top team,” Kane said. “Obviously. We got great goaltending, but we did the job tonight. And, you know, you look at our schedule the rest of the way, it doesn’t really get any easier. Right. So, we can play against these top teams in the league, and I think we proved that tonight.”

Moneypuck.com has Detroit’s playoff odds at 4.9%, but Kane has not given up.

“I think we had a lot of great blocks tonight too,” Kane said. “A lot of guys stepped up in that area. I thought Simon (Edvinsson) was great in front of the net, blocking shots. (Michael Rasmussen) had a couple there in the PK, so those are big plays.”