NHL Rumors: Patrick Kane, Red Wings in Contract Talks Ahead of 2024 Free Agency

The Detroit Red Wings are "having conversations" with Patrick Kane's agent before the veteran winger hits unrestricted free agency Monday, TSN's Pierre LeBrun reported.

Kane signed a one-year, $2.75 million contract with the Red Wings before making his successful comeback from hip resurfacing surgery in December.

He recorded 20 goals and 27 assists in 50 games as the Red Wings came within one point of making the playoffs.

Kane spent the 2023-24 season playing with Alex DeBrincat, who also skated alongside him for five seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks. The chemistry between the two linemates helped Kane record his third straight 20-goal season.

DeBrincat is locked in with his hometown team through 2027. For Kane, who is just the third player in NHL history to return to the league after undergoing hip resurfacing surgery, having a consistent linemate he already knows he clicks with could be a major draw in returning to Detroit.

But Kane is heading into his age-36 campaign, and even after his winter return, he missed time last season with an injury he said was unrelated to his hip surgery.

Age and injury concerns could lead the Red Wings to prioritize younger free-agent candidates like Moritz Seider and Lucas Raymond, who are both restricted free agents this offseason, when budgeting contracts this offseason.

Kane, who established himself as one of the best American scorers in NHL history during his 15 full seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks, was traded from the tanking Hawks to join the New York Rangers for their 2023 playoff push before signing in Detroit.

He ranks fourth among all active NHL players with 1,284 career points in 1,230 regular-season games. Although no longer an Art Ross contender, he has remained a consistent producer, scoring fewer than 20 goals just once in 17 NHL seasons.

If Detroit decides to focus on other candidates in free agency, a decision general manager Steve Yzerman said Tuesday "comes down to term and dollar," it is likely Kane will receive short-term offers from other teams looking for veteran offensive depth.