Patrick Kane signed a one-year, $2.75 million contract with the Red Wings

Kane’s eight-year contract, which he signed with the Chicago Blackhawks on July 9, 2014, expired last season with the New York Rangers after he was acquired in a three-team deal that also included the Arizona Coyotes on February 28. He scored 12 points (five goals, seven assists) in 19 games with New York and 45 points (16 goals, 29 assists) in 54 games with Chicago.

Red Wings forward Alex DeBrincat played with Kane in Chicago from 2017-2022.

“I think he was working hard,” DeBrincat said. “I think if anyone can come back from that surgery, it’s him. I think he’s kind of a hockey geek and thinks about hockey 24/7. I’m sure in his free time he’s worried about getting better and how he’s going to get better. “This is on his own. Himself. “It’s good to see him back so soon, I think he missed the game a lot.”

Kane is a three-time Stanley Cup champion with the Blackhawks (2010, 2013, 2015). He was voted the Conn Smythe Trophy as Most Valuable Player of the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs and won the 2015-16 Hart Trophy as the NHL’s Most Valuable Player, when he led the league with 106 points (46 goals, 60 assists) to also win the Art Award. Ross Cup. He was also voted winner of the Ted Lindsay Award for Most Valuable Player by members of the NHL Players Association that season and won the Calder Trophy in 2007–08 as Rookie of the Year when he led first-year players with 72 points (21). Goals, 51 assists).

Kane ranks second in Blackhawks history with 1,225 points (446 goals, 779 assists) behind Stan Mikita (1,467). His 1,237 NHL points (451 goals, 786 assists) are second among U.S.-born players behind Mike Modano (1,374). He was voted one of the NHL’s 100 Greatest Players at the league’s centennial celebration in 2017.

The Red Wings (11-6-3) have won three straight and are in third place in the Atlantic Division. They next play at the New York Rangers on Wednesday (7:30 p.m. ET, TNT, Max).

“I think he’s obviously the guy that the other team is worried about and focused on,” DeBrincat said. “He can draw a couple guys and move the puck, and I think that’s something I’ve had to learn to play with. I think he’s not a guy that’s going to maybe make the first play he sees. He’ll hold ’em up and then usually something better will open up, and then he’ll move it.” His hockey IQ is off the charts. “It was fun playing with him.”

NHL.com columnist Nicholas J. Cotsonica contributed to this report