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Motown NHL O F F THE D R AW Patrick Kane ready to help the Detroit Red Wings return to the Stanley Cup Playoffs 6 // JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024 USAHOCKEYMAGAZINE.COM U S A H O C K E Y N E W S , P E O P L E & P R O G R A M S SHOWTIME IN PHOTO BY Getty Images The Detroit Red Wings already had plenty of American muscle in their locker room at the start of this season, but now there is an even greater red, white and blue presence with Patrick Kane signing with the iconic franchise on Nov. 28 following offseason hip resurfacing surgery. "I just thought the fit was good," said Kane. "With a young team that's been playing well as of late, I can kind of come in and build my game. Not too much pressure right away on me with the success they're having this year." Two American pillars of the franchise—captain Dylan Larkin and Alex DeBrincat — each were kids growing up in Michigan the last time Detroit hoisted Lord Stanley's Cup in 2008. Now, Larkin and DeBrincat get to skate alongside Kane, a three-time Stanley Cup champion, as the Red Wings look to return to the postseason for the first time since 2015-2016. Originally selected by the Blackhawks with the first overall pick in the 2007 NHL Draft, Kane has an accomplished 16-year NHL career. Since making his NHL debut with Chicago on Oct. 4, 2007, Kane began this season with 1,237 points (451-786-1,237) in 1,180 games, the most points among active American-born NHL skaters. Kane joined the New York Rangers last season at the NHL trade deadline, and now he will have played for three of the NHL's Original Six franchises. Kane is no stranger to Detroit either. The Buffalo, N.Y., native played for the Michigan-based Honeybaked AAA program when he was 14 years old, where he billeted with Red Wings legend Pat Verbeek, before join- ing USA Hockey's National Team Development Program in Plymouth, Mich. He also was teammates with DeBrincat in Chicago for five seasons. "Throughout the whole process, I felt like Detroit was always there," Kane, who scored his first goal with the Wings in just his second game on Dec. 9, said. "It was always in the back of my mind, kind of in my heart as well, to come join this team." P