The Detroit Red Wings failed to end their postseason slump in the NHL, which has now extended to nine seasons. Todd McLellan’s mid-season appointment as head coach wasn’t enough, and the Red Wings finished six points shy of a playoff spot. While the latest failure is deflating for the organization, veteran Patrick Kane issued an honest comment on where extension talks stand heading into the offseason.
The Red Wings and the fans in Motor City feel hemmed in an everlasting loop over the past years, with the team always looking like it will finally break the hex, but always managing to disappoint in the end. Though it had its fair share of highs and lows, McLellan‘s Red Wings weren’t too different from past seasons.
It will be at least ten years until Detroit plays in the Stanley Cup Playoffs again, and the clock is ticking for everybody. Kane, who has conquered the Cup in three ocassions during his career, is hoping for one last shot at Lord Stanley, but the Red Wings fail to even compete for it.
While most signs point to Kane seeking a new home in the NHL, the 36-year-old — who is set to become an unrestricted free agent (UFA) when the league’s new year begins on July 1 — made a surprising revelation.
: Head coach Todd McLellan of the Detroit Red Wings reacts during practice at Ohio Stadium on February 28, 2025 in Columbus, Ohio.
“I think there’s definitely some mutual interest in coming back and continuing on here,” Patrick Kane admitted, via Yahoo! Sports.
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Similar situation
Kane is no stranger to the ongoing situation in Mo-town, he has gone through the same process during the last two seasons, when he signed consecutive one-year contracts with the Red Wings in Nov. 2023 and last offseason.
The thought process on both sides was made clear: Detroit doesn’t want to risk being tied to a high-value, multi-year contract in case the veteran star’s performance declines with age, while Kane hoped for job security but was content with a short-term deal that was financially rewarding, adding on to his net worth.
Listen to the kid
More of the same is to be expected this summer, unless the mutual interest comes across an unexpected roadbump and the contract talks fall through. That doesn’t seem much of an option for ‘Showtime’, who has admitted his four-year-old son, also named Patrick, plays a role in his decision.
Patrick Kane #88 of the Chicago Blackhawks celebrates by hoisting the Stanley Cup after defeating the Tampa Bay Lightning by a score of 2-0 in Game Six to win the 2015 NHL Stanley Cup Final at the United Center on June 15, 2015 in Chicago, Illinois.
“Imagine I took him away from Archie [DeBrincat], he’d be crushed,” Kane jokingly said. “Honestly, last year I said, ‘Where do you think your dad should play?’ He said, ‘Detroit.’ He enjoys it… He doesn’t know any better, but he loves coming to the games, being a part of it, and enjoying it. It’s definitely an important factor.”
Kane’s son is a common locker room and tunnel presence at Little Caesars Arena, often joined by Alex DeBrincat’s child, with both becoming social media celebrities on the Red Wings’ accounts.
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Though fans in Detroit hope for changes that finally get them over the hump, most can agree the entertaining Archie DeBrincat–Patrick Kane III duo is one that needs to be kept. And for that to happen, ‘Showtime’ must be signed to an extension in Motor City. Plus, extending a 20-goals per season contributor isn’t too bad, either.
