Before the Minnesota Wild went 10 years before advancing out of the first round of the playoffs, they were tasked with a more difficult problem. The Chicago Blackhawks were in the middle of a dynasty and they were the team the Wild could never get past, dropping three straight playoff series from 2013 to 2015.
One of the biggest reasons for Chicago’s success was Patrick Kane and 11 years after their last playoff encounter, Kane may finally be ready to jump to the good side as he approaches free agency. The Athletic’s Michael Russo listed the 37-year-old as a potential free agent target if they lose Mats Zuccarello in the coming weeks and it may be enough to see a notable villain in franchise history come to Minnesota.
“Kane would make a lot of sense if Zuccarello doesn’t return,” Russo wrote. “He’s still a power-play stud and could theoretically slide into Zuccarello’s spot on the top unit or Tarasenko’s on the second. It would give the Wild a different type of winger than Zuccarello. They could move Kane onto Zuccarello’s old line or move [Matt Boldy] up and Kane onto the second line.”
Patrick Kane could be Wild’s backup plan if they lose Mats Zuccarello
If Kane winds up in Minnesota, Wild fans would need some time to adjust. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2007 draft, Kane scored 446 goals and recorded 1,225 points in 16 seasons with the Blackhawks. He also tormented the Wild with 26 goals and 57 points in 62 career regular season games and eight goals and 15 points in 15 career playoff games.
A three-time Stanley Cup champion in Chicago, Kane was traded to the New York Rangers midway through the 2022-23 season and has spent the last three years with the Detroit Red Wings. While he told reporters he would like to stay in Detroit, Russo noted his stance may have changed after Dylan Larkin’s trade request. The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun also reported that while Kane “definitely wants to play another season” and the Red Wings want him back, “he’s mulling things over at the moment.”
Kane was still productive last season, scoring 16 goals and adding 57 points in 67 games. He also scored a pair of power-play goals but is one year removed from potting 12 with the man advantage, which could be a huge boost for Minnesota’s top-six.
The biggest factor which could help Kane wind up in Minnesota is the cost. Russo notes that Kane can sign a 35-plus contract that allows teams to add performance-based incentives into a deal. While the Wild could experience bonus overages if he hits those incentives with Minnesota likely to be up against the cap next season, the benefits may outweigh the risk even if Zuccarello doesn’t return.
The Wild can also offer Zuccarello a similar deal, so if the price is the same, Minnesota could stick to what it knows. But if Zuccarello becomes priced out, calling a former rival could be a surprising backup plan that fills one of Minnesota’s holes in the top six.
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