Patrick Kane's future is still up in the air.
Just 19 games into his Detroit Red Wings tenure, Patrick Kane suffered a lower-body injury that will keep the American out of the lineup for at least the next two games.
Kane was injured during Sunday's 4-2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs, logging just 1:07 minutes of ice time during that game. Coach Derek Lalonde told reporters on Tuesday that the 35-year-old would miss at least the match The rest of the road trip, But the disease has nothing to do with the hip.
Update on Patrick Kane, per Coach Lalonde:
Lower body injury (unrelated to the hip). He'll be out for the rest of the trip and we'll see how he progresses when we get back to Detroit. pic.twitter.com/4WADE1z8wv
– Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) January 16, 2024
That means Showtime will not be in the lineup Wednesday night against the Florida Panthers, nor Friday in Carolina against the Hurricanes.
Although Patrick Kane has only been ruled out for two games, it appears he could be sidelined next with a lower-body issue. For now, he'll stay at seven goals and 16 points through 19 games in Motown.
Kane's future for the Red Wings has yet to be determined
There is clearly a lot of anxiety surrounding the Red Wings and their free agent signing. And it's not just because after hip resurfacing surgery over the summer, Kane rekindled his relationship with Alex DeBrincat and appeared to have turned back the clock.
This is also because Kane's future in Detroit is still up in the air, according to Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic.
“We haven't discussed the future yet,” Pat Bryson's agent told LeBron just before the injury. “He's mainly focused on pushing the Red Wings to get to the playoffs. I'm sure that's his priority right now. I know he wants to keep playing the game he loves for as long as possible, and right now he's feeling great!”
LeBrun sees the Red Wings as having three options here: extend Kane before the NHL trade deadline on March 8, keep him for the rest of the season and decide on an extension in the offseason, or send him before the deadline.
Obviously, injury complicates matters.
“If the Red Wings stay in the playoff race, the No. 2 pick would be my pick if I were Yzerman,” LeBron confirmed. “I wouldn't rush into an extension. Use the rest of the season to gauge Patrick Kane's recovery.
“Yes, you risk losing him on July 1 in that scenario, but like I said, it's not like Detroit gave up anything to get him anyway. I'll stay patient. And if Detroit gets out of it, make sure there's a trade fit. It's Additional assets could be gained if this is the case.”
While Patrick Kane's status is murky right now, it should become clearer once more details about his new injury are revealed, as well as how well the Wings will fare without the three-time Stanley Cup champion.
