Patrick Kane is best known for being a central piece of the Chicago Blackhawks dynasty that won a pair of Stanley Cups in the 2010s, but his time with the Detroit Red Wings has the makings of one of the most remarkable redemption arcs in recent NHL history.
When Kane signed with Detroit in late 2023, he was fresh off hip resurfacing surgery – a procedure so invasive that only a handful of NHL players have ever returned from it (and even fewer have returned to play at a high level). The prevailing belief around the league was that Kane’s best years were behind him and that even if he could still contribute offensively, his skating and explosiveness might be gone for good.