With Alex DeBrincat in tow, should the Red Wings take aim at his old linemate with the Blackhawks? Gator says No. 88 would look good in Detroit:
"Here’s another name I want to throw out as a possibility. People have talked about the best years for DeBrincat were in Chicago with Patrick Kane. Patrick Kane’s a free agent."
You want to put Patrick Kane here?
"I do. Because I don’t think he’s going to cost you much, even if it’s just a one-year, prove-that-you’re-healthy deal."
Kane underwent hip surgery in June with an expected recovery time of four to six months. That likely puts him back in action by November. DeBrincat was a two-time 40-goal scorer playing with Kane in Chicago, and the two of them could team up with Dylan Larkin on Detroit's top line. Kane is eighth in the NHL in points over the last five seasons, but was limited to 57 points in 73 games last year due in part to his injury.
At this stage of his career, who knows if he would be open to joining a team that isn't yet a Cup contender. And as Karsch says, any potential contract "comes with a risk because the guy is 34 years old coming off a significant injury. The risk is that it would be a waste of resources."
The Red Wings still have $8 million in cap space after acquiring DeBrincat. And Steve Yzerman did say Monday that he's willing to spend to the ceiling if it makes the team better next season and that he's "not going to rule anything out."
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"If there’s a great player out there and we can acquire him and that forces us to go (to the ceiling), we would strong consider it," he said. "We’re not restrained by finances. We’re restrained by the salary cap. We’re not going to go to the cap just to go to the cap, but certainly if an opportunity comes along that makes our team better that forces us to it, we’re prepared to do that.
"Having said that, I’m not aware of any scenario that that’s going to happen at this time, so I don’t see us doing a whole lot more."
But as Gator says, "I feel confident that he’s a competent GM that thinks way into the future and he’ll have a move up his sleeve to make at some point."
Could it be for Kane? Unlikely. But in Yzerman's own words, don't "rule anything out."