Just when things are beginning to look up for the Detroit Red Wings, they get some bad news. Go figure. The Red Wings are on a bit of a heater at the moment, having gone 5-0-1 over their past six contests. That following an atrocious December where they nearly played their way out of the playoff race in the Eastern Conference is just what the doctor ordered, but they’ve got some concerning news regarding their star forward Patrick Kane. Kane, 35, was injured early in the first period this past Sunday in Detroit’s 4-2 road victory over Toronto and would not return. It’s a lower-body injury for Kane, with the positive news being that the injury does not involve his hip.
Of course, watching the play occur, the first thing I thought of was Kane’s resurfaced hip. There had been a ton of concerns around the procedure following the signing, knowing that no one in the NHL has successfully returned from this type of injury and played a significant amount of games. As Detroit Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman noted at the time of the signing, the organization is confident with how this hip resurfacing procedure was completed, as there are various ways to do it. Yzerman also mentioned that tennis star Andy Murray had his hip resurfacing done the same way Kane chose to have his completed.
John Keating has the latest on Red Wings forward Patrick Kane, who left the game early in the first period.#LGRW pic.twitter.com/XjngRM4FeP
— Bally Sports Detroit (@BallySportsDET) January 15, 2024
Derek Lalonde mentioned that Detroit Red Wings forward Patrick Kane will miss the next two games before being reevaluated.
As previously mentioned, the injury occurred within the first couple of minutes into the first period on Sunday in Toronto against the Leafs. Kane was walloped by Pontus Holmberg and moments later tripped near the Detroit goal while back-checking and crashed into the end boards attempting to break up a pass intended for Holmberg. Mickey Redmond described the hit by Holmberg as the hardest hit Kane’s taken since joining the Detroit Red Wings.
Kane has been excellent since joining the Red Wings. He’s notched seven goals and 16 points over 19 games while averaging just shy of 18 minutes of ice per night. His 11.1% shooting percentage is his best since 2019-20, when he maintained a 12% conversion rate. Kane did produce an 11.1% last season in 19 games with the Rangers, but 9.3% overall on the season.
Hopefully, this injury isn’t a long-term issue, but reinforcements are available. The Detroit Red Wings recently activated forward Klim Kostin off Injured Reserve. Kostin has been sidelined since Dec. 18 due to an upper-body injury from a hit and then mocked by Anaheim’s Radko Gudas. Expect Robby Fabbri or Daniel Sprong to be elevated to the second line to play with Alex DeBrincat and J.T. Compher in Kane’s absence. That puts Kostin back in his usual 12th-forward role on the fourth line.
The Detroit Red Wings are set to square off with the Panthers in Florida on Wednesday and are in Carolina on Friday before returning home to host the Tampa Bay Lightning. That Lightning game was originally scheduled for 5 PM EST. this coming Sunday has since been moved to 7 PM EST. The Detroit Lions also host Tampa Bay at 3 PM EST. for their Divisional Round Playoff game. The Lions are one win away from an NFC Championship berth.
