Patrick Kane’s free agency appears to have narrowed to a familiar fork in the road: Buffalo or Chicago.
That’s the read from Blackhawks legend Chris Chelios, who said on 104.3 The Score in Chicago that he spoke directly with Kane and came away convinced the choice is now a two-team race. “it is down to Buffalo and Chicago.” Chelios also made clear how he sees the pull of each option for the 37-year-old winger: Buffalo would mean heading home and making life easier for his family, while Chicago would be a return to the place where, in Chelios’ words, “he’s a Blackhawk.”
The update marks a shift from the broader picture that had been floating around earlier this week. Multiple insiders, including David Pagnotta, had recently described the chase as a four-team battle that also included Toronto and Colorado. Now, the discussion is centered on two destinations, with Chicago able to sell Kane on top-line minutes alongside Connor Bedard on what is expected to be a one-year deal, while Buffalo can pitch a homecoming and a team that can legitimately contend.
There is, however, one possible wrinkle that could change the market again. Buffalo’s Inside the NHL columnist Mike Harrington pointed out that Chelios’ comments came before the news out of Detroit that Steve Yzerman had been removed as President and GM. That development could matter if the Red Wings decide to make a splash and avoid losing players while their front office situation changes.
Detroit still has about $19.6 million in cap space, and if the organization wants to send a message, it could be the place where Kane gets the biggest offer. Harrington also noted that it would become especially interesting if Dylan Larkin’s trade request were rescinded now that Yzerman is mostly out of the picture.
Even with that possibility hanging out there, the clearest read for now is that Kane’s decision is coming soon and that the final call is between two very different paths. Buffalo still seems to be the favorite, but a return to Chicago carries its own pull.
In Other News...
Dylan Larkin Suddenly Looms Over One Massive Red Wings Question
The Red Wings have spent the summer watching a lot of noise swirl around other teams and other names, from Montreals reported lack of real interest in Anthony Mantha to the Predators having to trim a crowded roster and sort through trade possibilities. Even the Patrick Kane speculation has kept the rumor mill busy elsewhere, while Detroit has remained in a familiar spot where the biggest questions are still about the shape of its own roster and whether the club has done enough to move closer to contention.
What makes Dylan Larkin suddenly loom over all of it is the possibility that the dynamic around Detroit could change if Steve Yzerman is no longer the one steering the front office. The Red Wings have not exactly made offseason moves that scream playoff push, so any shift at the top would naturally send a ripple through the organization and back toward its captain. For a team still trying to define its next step, that kind of uncertainty is hard to ignore. [Read more 🡒]
Steve Yzerman Just Forced A Massive Red Wings Turning Point
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Edmonton also made a significant swing in reshaping its goaltending picture, adding Tristan Jarry, Devon Levi and Frederik Andersen to a roster that now looks markedly different in net. For Detroit, the bigger question is what comes next in its front office search, with the organization now weighing its options and trying to determine who will guide the next phase of the rebuild. [Read more 🡒]
Three Forgotten Red Wings Defense Prospects Still Matter More Than Fans Think
A few of the Red Wings 2023 draft defensemen have kept moving along in college hockey this season, even if they have slipped out of the daily conversation around Detroits prospect pool. Larry Keenan at UMass, Jack Phelan at Wisconsin and Brady Cleveland at Minnesota Duluth have all carved out meaningful roles, with each one showing the kind of defensive growth that keeps pro teams watching closely.
Keenan has added offense to his game while still handling the work that matters most in his own end, Phelan has settled in as a dependable stay-at-home presence, and Cleveland continues to bring the size and edge that made him such an intriguing pick in the first place. None of that guarantees a quick path to the NHL, but it does mean Detroit still has three blue-line projects worth tracking as their college seasons unfold and the club weighs future contract decisions. [Read more 🡒]