Daniel Sprong ready to give up his No. 88 to new Detroit Red Wings teammate Patrick Kane
Count Daniel Sprong among those ready to make Patrick Kane welcome the day he shows up to work for the Detroit Red Wings at Little Caesars Arena.
Kane has agreed to a one-year, $2.75 million deal with the Wings, but coach Derek Lalonde said Tuesday there are still hurdles to clear, zeroing in on Kane's health. The 35-year-old underwent invasive hip surgery June 1.
Kane is a 16-year NHL veteran with three Stanley Cups to his name. He has worn No. 88 during his 15-plus year reign with the Chicago Blackhawks, and in the 19 games he played with the New York Rangers after last season's trade deadline.
ROSTER SHUFFLING: How Dylan Larkin's injury is impacting Red Wings signing Patrick Kane
That number is currently worn in Detroit by Daniel Sprong, but he is ready to give it up to a new teammate.
"If he comes here, he’s Patrick Kane, so he can have the number and I will switch, for sure," Sprong said Tuesday. "That’s his number, he’s been in the league for a long time. He’s a legend in the game and he’s a superstar, so I would have no problem with that. He made that number a trademark and it’s definitely his."
Contact Helene St. James at hstjames@freepress.com. Follow her @helenestjames.
Read more on the Detroit Red Wings and sign up for our Red Wings newsletter. Her latest book, “On the Clock: Behind the Scenes with the Detroit Red Wings at the NHL Draft,” is available from Amazon,Barnes & Noble and Triumph Books. Personalized copies available via her e-mail.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Red Wings' Daniel Sprong ready to give No. 88 to Patrick Kane
