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Greg Wyshynski, ESPNNov 28, 2023, 11:27 AM ET
CloseGreg Wyshynski is ESPN’s senior NHL writer.
The most notable free agent remaining to sign during the 2023-24 NHL season has chosen a team. Patrick Kane is joining the Detroit Red Wings, by way of a one-year, $2.75 million contract.
Where does he fit in the Red Wings’ lineup? Does the deal make sense for where the Red Wings are in their process of building up into a contender again?
Here’s our take on answering both questions — as well as an overall grade for the deal.
Where does he fit?
Entering unrestricted free agency for the first time, Patrick Kane had several conversations with other NHL teams regarding his next stop. About his hip resurfacing surgery. About their ability to contend for a Stanley Cup. About lineup opportunities.
For example, one of the prime selling points for the Florida Panthers — besides how nice the weather in South Florida would feel on a mended hip, no doubt — was that Kane would be slotted to play on the right side of Aleksander Barkov. Not a bad place to be, considering Barkov has generated more than a point per game in five of the past six seasons.
One imagines that Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman had similar conversations about lineup fit. He could offer Kane something tangible and familiar: The chance to play in their top six, and potentially together with former teammate Alex DeBrincat.
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Detroit’s second line has most recently featured DeBrincat, center J.T. Compher and winger Michael Rasmussen, who has two goals and four points in 20 games. That line has just a 39.8% expected goals percentage together, per Evolving Hockey. They’ve tried other combinations to find a reliable second scoring unit behind Dylan Larkin’s top line. That Kane and DeBrincat could create one was undoubtedly part of the math here.
They were frequent linemates with the Chicago Blackhawks, playing the majority of their 5-on-5 time together from 2019-20 to 2021-22. During that span, the Blackhawks…
Source link : https://www.espn.com/nhl/insider/story/_/id/38997851/patrick-kane-nhl-grades-detroit-red-wings-contract-signing
Author : Greg Wyshynski
Publish date : 2023-11-28 16:52:17
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