Free agent Patrick Kane is signing with the Detroit Red Wings, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports.
Kane, who turned 35 on Nov. 19, has been recovering from a June hip-resurfacing procedure and it’s unclear whether he will be able to return to form as a top-line offensive player.
Last season, he had 21 goals and 36 assists for 57 points in 73 combined regular-season games for the Chicago Blackhawks and New York Rangers. It was his fewest points since the 2012-13 lockout season. He added one goal and five assists in seven playoff games.
The nine-time All-Star was traded to the Rangers at the trade deadline in the final year of his eight-year, $84-million contract.
The marquee addition wasn’t enough for the Rangers, who lost in seven games to the New Jersey Devils in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The Red Wings are off to a strong start. They are tied for third in the Atlantic Division at 11-6-3 as they try to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2016.
Kane won three Stanley Cups in Chicago and took home the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP in 2013. He captured the Hart Trophy as the league’s most valuable player in 2015-16, the same year he won the scoring title with 106 points.
The Buffalo native has 451 goals and 786 assists for 1,237 points in 1,180 career games for the Blackhawks and Rangers.
