Patrick Kane's time with the Red Wings could be ending, or just beginning. What he knows for sure with four games left in the season is that he made the right choice coming to Detroit.
"Nothing but positive things to say about the organization, the coaches and the team in here," Kane said Wednesday. "Really happy with the decision to come here. Obviously it's not easy deciding where you want to play and where you think you would fit best, but really happy with coming here. It's been great being a Wing and playing at the LCA and the way the fans have embraced me -- you never really know with the Chicago-Detroit rivalry -- it's really been great. I've been happy with everything."
The Red Wings signed Kane in November to a one-year, $2.75 million contract after he had hip resurfacing surgery last offseason. No one, Kane included, knew for sure how his hip would respond. The answer lies in his production: 20 goals and 44 points in 46 games. Kane managed 21 goals and 57 points in 73 games last season while hobbled and playing through pain.
"Feel pretty good on the ice, definitely feel better than last year, which makes it feel like a good decision (to get surgery)," he said. "... The thing is, I'm not feeling pain on the ice. That's a lot different than what I was used to the last couple years, two and a half seasons, so that's exciting. I think it will always be something to keep an eye on and a little bit of a process, but as far as where I'm at compared to last year, it's a big difference. Excited to just keep dialing it in more and more."
Kane, 35, has been a boon to the Red Wings' power play and their top six. He's fourth on the team in goals and fifth in points despite having played in only 60 percent of their games. Derek Lalonde said Wednesday that Kane has "been everything as advertised," from "the offense he's produced, the leadership he's brought, the presence he's brought to the team."
Which begs the question: does Kane want to stay? The Red Wings would surely like to keep him, though he'll command a raise and likely a multi-year deal and he'll have several suitors in free agency after proving himself healthy. If Kane wants to spend the final seasons of his career with a Cup contender, the Wings aren't there yet. They enter play Thursday night one point behind Washington for the second wild card in the East, with a crucial game on deck in Pittsburgh.
Asked about his future, Kane said, "I haven't really thought about it much."
"Obviously you know it's in the back of your mind and it's going to come up eventually, but I think right now it's more about staying in the present, being here with this team and trying to get into the playoffs," he said. "With the situation I was in, coming in and being here for maybe three-quarters of the season, you know that it's just this year and then see what happens after. Just trying to stay in the moment for this year and hopefully all that stuff figures itself out after."
Kane clearly isn't done. The healthy hip has rejuvenated his career. Over a full season, he'd be on pace for the third most goals of his career. Asked if he's met his own expectations this season, Kane said, "I think I'm happy with my production and what I've accomplished, but you always feel like there's a little bit more in the tank."
"As a player, you're always your biggest critic and you always feel like you can do a little bit more for the team," he said. "But I think overall, it's been pretty good, so just trying to keep building and get better and better."
