Canadian Team Signs 3x Stanley Cup Champion and Former Blackhawk Patrick Kane - a Possibility Arises

PUBLICATION

Skyler Walker
November 1, 2023 (11:59)

SHARE THIS STORY

Canadian Team Pursuing Patrick Kane

The Edmonton Oilers are in search of the missing piece to complete their top-six forward lineup, and they've set their sights on an intriguing free-agent option.

Patrick Kane, a three-time Stanley Cup champion, has yet to sign with any team after undergoing hip resurfacing surgery in June. The anticipated recovery period, set at four to six months, has either passed or is drawing to a close.

The Right-Wing Conundrum

Ironically, the Oilers find themselves in need of a top-six right winger, and Connor Brown, initially pegged for the role, has had a challenging start to the season, registering zero points and a minus-five in eight games. Brown has been shifted to a lower forward group due to his performance.

Brown's early struggles can be traced back to his limited playtime in the 2022-23 season, with just four games before an ACL injury sidelined him. What complicates matters is that the Oilers are soon to face a substantial commitment � a $3.225 million performance bonus owed to Brown upon reaching 10 games played, an amount that will carry over to next year's salary cap.

Patrick Kane, on the other hand, boasts an illustrious career, marked by 451 goals and 1237 points in 1180 career games. Despite battling a hip injury during the 2022-23 season, Kane managed to tally 21 goals and 57 points in 73 games, split between the Chicago Blackhawks and the New York Rangers. His previous season was equally impressive, with 26 goals and 92 points in 78 games, emphasizing his enduring offensive capabilities at the age of 34.

While Connor Brown has his merits, with his career-best of 21 goals in the 2020-21 season and 43 points in 2019-20, primarily with the Ottawa Senators, his playing style may be better suited for a third-line role.

The key question revolves around the financial aspects of bringing Patrick Kane on board. After concluding his eight-year, $84 million contract at the end of the 2022-23 season, Kane's expectations need to be adjusted. Any hopes of securing a similar deal would be unrealistic. To make Kane's return a possibility and to vie for a fourth Stanley Cup, a more modest contract with performance bonuses, akin to Connor Brown's, may be the path forward.

One potential option could involve sending Mattias Janmark down to the minors or pursuing a trade, given his $1 million contract, to create the cap space needed for the Oilers' pursuit of Patrick Kane and their championship aspirations.