Patrick Kane ‘Has not been 100 percent for a while’
Patrick Kane met with the media for the first time since the New York Rangers were eliminated from the New Jersey Devils on Monday evening, weighing in on topics like his health, future and more.
Patrick Kane praised the Rangers training staff for getting him ready to play but he was not 100 percent and hasn’t been for a while. He he has to figure out his health issue with his ailing lower-body injury before thinking about what comes in free agency.
— Dan Rosen (@drosennhl) May 3, 2023
Kane told reporters that he was not 100 percent healthy and was dealing with a lower-body injury. Kane said he hopes to know within the next week or so whether he’ll require surgery this offseason.
A report by The Athletic’s Arthur Staple in February said that it “seems like the whole league knows now that Kane needs hip surgery.” Kane didn’t miss any time while with the Rangers.
Kane, 34, was acquired by the Rangers from the Chicago Blackhawks ahead of the 2023 NHL Trade Deadline. He had 12 points in 19 regular season games and another six points in seven playoff contests with the Blueshirts. Kane failed to get on the scoresheet in the final three games of the seven-contest affair.
Among other topics, Kane said that re-joining the Chicago Blackhawks in free agency “never crossed my mind”, mentioning that the team is currently in the midst of a rebuild. The Blackhawks previously announced they will not offer another contract to Jonathan Toews, with whom Kane had significant success en route to three Stanley Cup titles.
Kane is set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer, but did say he’d be interested in returning to the Big Apple.
“I would love to be back,” Kane told reporters. “If I can feel better, with this team and this opportunity, I’d love that chance.”
Kane has 1,237 career points in 1,180 games over 16 seasons, mostly with the Blackhawks, He also has 53 goals and 138 points in 143 playoff games, which included the three Cups and even the 2013 Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP.