Patrick Kane’s next NHL stop is coming into focus, and the latest buzz points away from Detroit and toward Buffalo.
NHL insider Elliotte Friedman said he does not expect Kane to return to the Red Wings, even if he can’t say with certainty where the veteran winger will land. Detroit, in his view, is not in the mix.
The strongest signal has come from Sportsnet’s Luke Fox, who reported this week that the Buffalo native is working on a contract with his hometown Sabres. Nothing is signed yet, but the chatter has clearly tilted Buffalo’s way after months of speculation that touched three different teams.
There is still a layer of intrigue here. The news about Connor Bedard’s four-month injury has opened the door to a possible reunion, but Buffalo remains the favorite. Blackhawks GM Kyle Davidson has previously said that the Kane ship has sailed, and there’s no reason to think that stance has changed.
Kane has been tied to the Sabres before, so this wouldn’t come out of nowhere. If he ends up there in the next few days, it would fit the way this has been trending.
The fit in Buffalo makes sense on paper. The Sabres finished first in the Atlantic Division under Lindy Ruff, while Detroit faded late despite Kane’s production.
He put up 57 points in 67 games this past season with the Red Wings over his last three years there. Buffalo also has a clear opening on the wing after losing Alex Tuch in a sign-and-trade with Washington, and the club has roughly $8.6 million in cap space to address it.
Toronto had also been mentioned as a possible landing spot, with Kane seen as a mentor for No. 1 pick Gavin McKenna, but the Leafs’ free-agency spending has left them without the room to make a serious offer.
At 37 and heading into his 20th NHL season, Kane looks poised to keep going close to where it all began - even if the deal is still unofficial for now.
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