Detroit Red Wings
· 2026-07-13
The Detroit Red Wings are set to lose Patrick Kane this summer after three seasons in Hockeytown.
Patrick Kane, the 37-year-old winger, is expected to leave the Original Six club when the 2026 free-agency period closes. His next team remains unclear, but a top insider has just thrown a new contender into the mix.
Kane joined Detroit in 2023 and has 62 points in 112 games for the Red Wings. The club sits 10th in the Eastern Conference with a 41-31 record and on a three-game losing streak as of July 13.
And the veteran forward is chasing one last Stanley Cup. Kane won three Cups with Chicago but hasn’t hoisted the hardware since 2015. He’s now weighing a move to a non-Original Six team for the first time since leaving the Blackhawks.
NHL Insider David Pagnotta named the Colorado Avalanche as a surprise Kane option on Leafs Morning Take. The Avs already boast Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar and Martin Necas up front. Adding Kane would only boost their Cup odds after a disappointing 2026 postseason exit.
But Colorado may need to move a middle-six winger to clear cap space. If Kane’s asking price stays reasonable, the fit makes sense for both sides.
The Buffalo Sabres and Toronto Maple Leafs have long been considered favorites. Buffalo ended a long playoff drought in 2025/26, while Toronto remains a perennial Cup threat. Minnesota Wild were also floated as a destination before Pagnotta’s Avalanche mention.
Kane’s camp has yet to name a timetable. The longer the wait, the more teams could enter the race.
The Red Wings are already plotting life without Kane. GM Steve Yzerman has stressed flexibility at the trade deadline and in free agency. Detroit’s 41-31 record leaves them on the playoff bubble with 10 games left in the regular season.
And the club’s front office must decide whether to pursue a rebuild or chase one last playoff push. Either way, Kane’s exit reshapes the roster—and the 2026/27 outlook.