Detroit Red Wings forward Patrick Kane revealed today that his future with the Red Wings is not as settled as we might have thought.
This year marked the ninth in a row that the Detroit Red Wings have failed to make the playoffs.
At this point, fans are starting to question general manager Steve Yzerman and his infamous “Yzerplan” as the team has failed to make significant progress, effectively ending the season exactly where they were at this time last year.
Those fans have every right to question Yzerman’s moves as many of them have seemingly made no sense, and certainly do not look great in hindsight.
For example, he traded defenseman Jake Walman to the Sharks last summer, giving up a 2nd round pick in exchange for nothing as a cap dump.
But Walman went on to put up 6 goals and 32 points in 50 games with the Sharks before being traded to the Oilers for a first round pick.
Walman had a goal and 8 points in 15 games with the Oilers.
That being said, not every move Yzerman has made worked out so poorly.
One of his better moves in recent years was signing Patrick Kane, who has put up 41 goals and 106 points across 122 games with the team over the past two seasons.
Today, Kane revealed that there is mutual interest between him and the club to sign another extension this offseason.
Kane obviously provides point production on the ice, but he is also a valuable leader, which he demonstrated this season by refusing to give up on making the playoffs late in the year.
With all of that being said, Kane will be turning 37 next season and he has certainly started to show signs of decline.
He had just 21 goals and 59 points in 72 games this year after scoring just under a point-per-game in his first season with the Red Wings.
If that trend continues, he may not be the difference maker Yzerman is hoping for by the time next season comes around.
