Patrick Kane, pain-free, gets on the ice with the Red Wings: Its good to be back in the NHL

NEW YORK — It’s somewhat fitting that Patrick Kane kicked off his 2023-24 season here, skating with his new Detroit Red Wings teammates at Madison Square Garden. Kane was last seen hobbling through the end of a disappointing first-round playoff loss to the New Jersey Devils as a member of the New York Rangers, where he’d requested a trade that materialized Feb. 28 of last season.

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Kane is back, but not with the Rangers. He chose Detroit and a one-year, $2.75-million contract out of a handful of suitors and now, just shy of six months since he underwent hip resurfacing surgery, the 35-year-old Kane is in a new uniform, wearing his old No. 88, getting acclimated to a new home with plenty of uncertainty.

“It’s crazy, man,” Kane said after an hour-long workout. He wasn’t going to play on Wednesday and it’s more likely he’ll get in a game for the Wings next week, but he clearly still relishes being on the ice with teammates. “Throughout the whole process, you start thinking about teams, 2-3 months ago or whatever it is and it seems like your mind kind of changes every day. I just felt like Detroit was always there, in the back of my mind. Even to the point of checking with (agent) Pat Brisson just to see if Detroit reached out or if they’re interested. So it’s exciting that worked out.”

There were other teams involved, of course. The Florida Panthers were eager all along and there were formal conversations with the Dallas Stars, Toronto Maple Leafs, Boston Bruins and a small handful of others. Even more informal conversations with other teams, including the Rangers, who stayed out of the fray this time around after GM Chris Drury turned his roster into a pretzel to make the salary-cap ramifications work last winter.

All the while, Kane was rehabbing after a surgery that has been too intense for the few who have had it and tried to resume their NHL careers. He said he spoke to Carl Hagelin, who had the surgery but was forced to retire last season, primarily due to an eye injury. Kane talked to Nicklas Backstrom, who had one season post-surgery with the Washington Capitals but is now likely done, away from the team while he ponders his future.

“I’m really optimistic about where I can go from here and how long I can play,” Kane said. “I think just the situation I was in, talking with the doctors and physical therapists, this was the best way to go. … The pain was pretty much gone after the surgery to the point where I didn’t need any of the pain medication or anything. It just felt so much better not to have that impingement, the bone-on-bone in the hip. After that, just building up the muscles around the area that have had so much atrophy from years of not being able to use the right muscles. It’s exciting when you get on the ice and you see the progress, and there’s no restriction on your right side.”

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Kane said Wednesday was another step along the way to a full recovery. He’s had, by his estimation, 60-65 skates since the surgery, including plenty of contact — former NHL defenseman Cody Goloubef was on the ice with Kane in Toronto often, providing some physical pushback as Kane ramped up. At night, Kane turned into a kind of NHL superfan/scout, watching games with an eye toward where he might fit in a lineup.

The Wings made a lot of sense to him. Not just because they’ve seemingly turned a corner this season, off to an 11-6-3 start after seven years without playoffs. Alex DeBrincat, who had success playing with Kane in Chicago, is a Wing now.

“The DeBrincat factor had something to do with it too,” Kane said. “Just being comfortable with him on and off the ice, try to build that chemistry again. A lot of good pieces here and it’s a young team but I think they’re on the rise and there’s a chance to build something.”

As there was with the Rangers last season, a buzz seemed to invigorate a typical morning skate. Daniel Sprong had No. 88 for a couple of months in his first season as a Red Wing but he’s sporting No. 17 now and there wasn’t much of a conversation about it. “Best American player ever,” Sprong said with a shrug. He’s been promised some sort of gift for switching but didn’t seem too fussed by the change.

“We’re a long ways away from playoff time but I think our start has been good,” Andrew Copp said. “Hopefully he’s seeing that he can contribute and maybe take us to the next level.”

(Photo: Michael Mooney / NHLI via Getty Images)

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