Red Wings fans had their suspicions confirmed regarding Patrick Kane by Elliotte Friedman
Photo credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
Patrick Kane is still unsigned, and one Toronto storyline keeps taking over: his idol link to first overall pick Gavin McKenna.
Elliotte Friedman poured fuel on it by saying he doesn't expect Kane back in Detroit, leaving the veteran's next move wide open.
Re Patrick Kane: "He's got options; I don't know that I expect him to go back to Detroit."
- Elliotte Friedman
- Elliotte Friedman
McKenna named Kane as his hero after the draft, and Kane texted him a welcome. The narrative wrote itself from there.
But a mentorship storyline explains why Toronto wants Kane. It says almost nothing about why Kane would pick Toronto.
What Toronto wants versus what Kane needs
The Maple Leafs finished 28th overall last season and allowed the most goals in the Atlantic Division.
That is not a landing pad for a 37-year-old chasing a fourth Stanley Cup.
Kane has spent this stage of his career hunting rings, not rebuilds. The idol connection is a recruiting pitch from John Chayka, not a reason for Kane to sign.
Compare that with the Buffalo Sabres, who finished fourth overall with 109 points and have been called his likeliest destination, the two things a 37-year-old actually weighs.
The distinction matters more than the storyline. Toronto is selling comfort; Kane's incentives point toward winning now.
What Kane's recent history shows
There is also history working against the panic. Kane re-signed with Detroit on the eve of free agency in each of the past two summers.
Chris Johnston has said Kane hasn't fully closed the door on the Red Wings, even with Steve Yzerman's roster in flux.
Waiting is simply what Kane does.
So the real question isn't whether McKenna's admiration is sweet. It's whether Toronto can sell a legacy role to a player whose recent history says he wants to compete.
If Kane signs in Buffalo or returns to Detroit, the McKenna storyline ages as a footnote, not a factor.
That is the tell worth watching this week.
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