It’s not exactly an everyday occurrence when a future Hall of Fame player gets that unique opportunity to end their NHL career playing where they grew up and first fell in love with the game.
Three-time Stanley Cup winner Patrick Kane, who is the all-time leading point producer (1,400) among American-born players, has that unique opportunity but hasn’t tipped his hand about whether that’s what he will do.
Kane, who is now 37 years old, is an unrestricted free agent, and one of the intriguing storylines is whether this Buffalo, N.Y. native would sign with the up-and-coming Buffalo Sabres.
Is Veteran Forward Patrick Kane Interested In Coming Back Home By Signing With the Buffalo Sabres?
As a kid growing up, Kane’s passion for hockey was developed at an early age while attending Sabres home games with his dad. During this period, Kane’s favourite Sabre was future Hall of Famer and another American-born player in forward Pat LaFontaine.Â
Earlier in the offseason, Buffalo suffered a tremendous blow when 6’4″, 219 pound unrestricted free agent forward Alex Tuch, who was coming off back-to-back 30 plus goal seasons was traded then immediately signed by the Washington Capitals for an eight-year deal worth $10.5 million.
Tuch, who had been a Sabre for the past five seasons, played a huge role last season in the team’s success by producing 33 goals along with 67 points while also bringing a physical element to the team.
No doubt, the Sabres will miss his consistent goal scoring, which is the same element that Kane could bring to this young Sabres team.
According to persistent rumours, the Sabres have been trying to orchestrate a deal for Winnipeg Jets three-time Vezina Trophy winning goalie Connor Hellebuyck, which would involve Sabres 24-year-old forward Jack Quinn going the other way.
Apparently, the Sabres are open to the idea of signing Kane to help replace the production of Quinn if that deal is made.
During the first few days of the free agent signing period, it’s being said that either the Sabres of their QEW rivals, Toronto Maple Leafs, will end up signing this future Hall of Famer.
Door Hasn’t Been Closed On Kane Signing Another Contract Extension With Wings
It’s been a tough off-season for the Detroit Red Wings who have had to deal with the trade demands of their high scoring captain, forward Dylan Larkin.
With his future still up in the air, Detroit, who acquired forwards Viktor Arvidsson and Keegan Kolesar, is according to reports open to the idea of bringing Kane back to the Motor City.
According to reporter Chris Johnson, “The door is still firmly open for a reunion. I know he hasn’t fully closed the door on Detroit.” Naturally whether the Wings make a pitch to re-sign Kane will depend quite a bit on what happens Larkin who this past season had 67 (34 goals, 33 assists) points.
Kane Could Be Wearing Maple Leafs Colours
It’s no big secret among hockey fans that the Toronto Maple Leafs have over the past 10 years or so drastically underachieved in the playoffs.
While Toronto has some richly talented players such as captain Auston Matthews, John Tavares, William Nylander and Morgan Rielly to name a few, what they are missing are players who have won Stanley Cups and knows what it takes to be successful.
That is where a Kane and his three Stanley Cups fit in. He has been through the wars and provides that necessary veteran leadership.
Another big reason why Kane would be a fit with the Leafs is that 18 year-old forward Gavin McKenna, who the club selected 1st overall, is a big fan of ”Showtime.’
During a recent press conference, a thrilled McKenna couldn’t say enough about a text he received from Kane.
“I didn’t get too many wild ones, but Patrick Kane texted me. He’s my idol, so that was cool. He’s who I grew up watching. I don’t know if it was all the YouTube highlights that made me play like him, but he’s someone I’ve always watched, just how creative he is and how smart he is, someone who has just rubbed off on me, I guess.”
In years past McKenna’s playing style has been compared to Kane’s as they are both offensively gifted players who were both picked number one in the NHL Draft. Kane was selected in 2007 first overall by the Chicago Blackhawks while as mentioned McKenna was taken this past June, first overall by the Leafs.
Kane has gone on to win the 2008 Calder Trophy, played in nine NHL All-Star Games (2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020) won the Art Ross Trophy, Hart Trophy, and Ted Lindsay Award in 2016 and the three Stanley Cups (2010, 2013 and 2015) and 2013 Conn Smythe Trophy to name just a few of his numerous achievements.
Despite Kane being on the back nine of his career, he would without question not only give Toronto that added scoring depth but provide leadership for the likes of McKenna.
Still, it’s very rare that a player gets that unique opportunity to finish off a career playing in front of their home town crowd. To play where as a kid they attended games with his father.
This might end up being the deciding factor which makes Kane end his career as a Sabre.
Main Image: Danny Wild-Imagn Images
