How soon will we see Patrick Kane playing for Detroit Red Wings? Here's the plan
NEW YORK — Patrick Kane took a twirl Wednesday morning in his "beautiful" new Detroit Red Wings uniform, but suiting up for a game isn't likely for another week.
The day after he signed a one-year, $2.75 million contract with the Red Wings, Kane was with the team in New York, joining them for their morning skate ahead of the evening's game against the New York Rangers.
"You get out there this morning and you’re skating and you feel like you can get out there and play," Kane said. "But I think just in general, talking to the training staff and Steve [Yzerman} and the coaches, we probably want to give it a little more time, get me up to speed, get in a few practices with the team. Don’t rush into it."
Kane, 35, estimated the earliest he could play is Tuesday in Buffalo — his hometown — but sounded likelier that it will be the Dec. 7 home against against the San Jose Sharks or Dec. 9 against the Ottawa Senators.
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"I think the plan was a week to 10 days, so I guess that would be maybe around the Buffalo game would be the earliest, or maybe one of the home games," he said. "We’ll just take it day to day."
Kane, who spent 15-plus seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks, said the Wings were more or less always frontrunners to land his services as he seeks to regain his foothold in the NHL after undergoing invasive hip surgery in June.
"I think it's an incredible franchise, incredible organization," he said. "I think the jersey is beautiful, too, even though you've played against them and hate them there for a while, it's such a beautiful jersey."
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Daniel Sprong had been wearing No. 88, but proactively gave it up so Kane could keep the number he's worn throughout his career. (Sprong will switch to 17).
"I kind of felt bad, I didn't really even talk to him this morning," Kane said. "I saw they switched his number over. I was telling him today, once we get settled in here and get things going, we'll figure out something. It was nice of him to give up the jersey. He was very gracious about it. It's appreciated."
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Red Wings' Patrick Kane expects to make season debut next week
