First-ballot Hall of Famers rarely end up in trade rumors — let alone actual trades — but that hasn’t stopped plenty of chatter this fall. A few no-doubt enshrinees could be on the move before season’s end, and the idea is gaining just enough traction to make you wonder.
Most of that talk centers on Sidney Crosby. At 38, the Pittsburgh Penguins captain remains elite, but the team’s window has slammed shut around him. The theory goes that if Crosby wants one more legitimate shot at a Stanley Cup, it might have to come somewhere else — and the Penguins, facing a long climb back to contention, might quietly see the logic too.
If that feels too far-fetched, there’s always Evgeni Malkin. Another sure-fire Hall of Famer, Malkin hits free agency after this season, and those close to him suggest he’d waive his no-trade clause for a real contender.
And then there’s Patrick Kane — the wild card in this whole conversation. Kane sits at the intersection of legacy and opportunity: one of the most decorated players of his era, still capable of changing a team’s playoff fate if the right fit appears.
Red Wings Veteran Patrick Kane Could Soon Be on the Move
Kane, now 36, remains an active force in Detroit, where he’s entering his second full season with the Red Wings on a one-year, $3 million deal. It’s a contract that looks designed for flexibility — both for the player and the team. He’ll be an unrestricted free agent at season’s end, which means that if Detroit finds itself hovering around the playoff bubble again, the door is open for a move that would’ve once seemed unthinkable.
The Red Wings are on a slow climb back to league relevancy, and there are more steps to take. General manager Steve Yzerman’s long-term plan has yielded some positive results, but still no playoff berths, with the franchise’s postseason drought sitting at nine seasons.
For a player with Kane’s pedigree, which includes a trio of Stanley Cup titles while with the Chicago Blackhawks, lining up with kids and carrying the hopes of a proud franchise may not seem like the ideal way to wind down a Hall-of-Fame career, but there appears to be no sense of restlessness. During his 19th NHL training camp, The Detroit News noted how Kane still carried a “kid-like” enthusiasm for the daily grind, laughing through drills, teasing teammates, and setting the standard for how a veteran stays relevant. And while Kane might be one of hockey’s elder statesmen now, his motivations remain rooted in competition and legacy.
“For me, it’s just the love of the game. I love being on the ice,” Kane told The Hockey News. “I love practicing. I love playing. I love being in a moment where the team needs to count on you and you need to step up, right? That’s the kind of thrill that drives me now. It’s not necessarily the numbers.”
That said, Kane is eyeing major personal milestones this season — inching toward 500 career goals and closing the gap on Mike Modano for the most points ever by a U.S.-born player. Those aren’t the goals of a player winding things down; they’re the targets of a competitor who still believes he can shape outcomes.
Ironically, that mindset could make him even more attractive to contending teams looking for a steady hand in the postseason. And if such a scenario unfolds, there would be no shortage of suitors, as noted by NHL Trade Rumors.
Several Playoff Contenders Loom as Potential Suitors for Patrick Kane
Vegas always hunts for proven winners at the deadline. Toronto, perennially chasing that elusive playoff breakthrough, could see him as the missing veteran voice. The Rangers, who had a brief look at Kane in 2023, know exactly what he can bring to a power play. And then there’s Edmonton — loaded with offensive firepower, yet perennially in search of one more difference-maker come spring. All of those teams could justify making a call if Detroit’s direction starts to wobble by February.
Of course, there’s risk. Kane’s hip surgery in June 2023 was a career crossroad, and though he’s recovered impressively, no one knows how many more high-level seasons his body has left. There’s also the question of chemistry — how easily he could slot into a contender’s system midway through the season, and whether the cost in prospects or draft picks would be worth it for a few months of production. For Detroit, the optics of moving a player of Kane’s stature aren’t simple either. It would need to be a thoughtful deal, one that clearly serves the long-term vision rather than sending a signal of surrender.
Still, the logic isn’t crazy. Hockey history is full of late-career legends taking one last shot at a championship elsewhere — Brad Marchand, Ray Bourque, Marian Hossa, Jarome Iginla. All of them found something valuable in that final chase. And if the Red Wings’ season starts slipping away, Kane’s story could take the same turn: one more trade, one more push, one more reminder of why his name will one day hang in the rafters of the Hockey Hall of Fame.
For now, Kane’s focus is on Detroit, on leadership, and on continuing to play the game with the joy of someone who still loves it. But if spring rolls around and the Red Wings aren’t where they hoped to be, don’t be surprised if the whispers grow louder.
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