Sources: Red Wings to sign 9-time All-Star Kane
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Emily Kaplan, ESPN
Patrick Kane is signing a one-year contract with the Detroit Red Wings, sources told ESPN on Tuesday.
Kane, who spent the first 16 years of his NHL career with the Chicago Blackhawks before a trade to the New York Rangers last spring, is six months out from undergoing hip resurfacing surgery. The nine-time All-Star has met with a handful of teams over the past month, including his hometown Buffalo Sabres, the Florida Panthers, Dallas Stars, Toronto Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins.
According to sources, Kane narrowed down his focus and was down to two Eastern Conference teams in the final week of his decision.
Kane, 35, relocated his family to Toronto to rehab from the surgery over the past six months. Dr. Edward Hsu performed the hip resurfacing, and Ian MacIntyre oversaw Kane’s rehab. In Toronto, Kane skated with former NHL player Cody Hodgson, who helped him with battle drills and fed him pucks.
According to several sources, Kane was asked on Zoom meetings by general managers and coaches why he wanted to put his body through the grueling rehab process, especially for a surgery with little proof of concept in the NHL, and his answer was repeatedly: “Because I love the game.”
Kane showed humility through the process, sources said, constantly saying he knew he needed “to earn my spot,” and saying he didn’t expect to play on a team’s first line or first power-play unit.
Kane has 1,237 points in 1,180 games during his NHL career, fourth-most among active players. His 451 career goals are sixth-most among active players.
In the end, according to sources, Kane was impressed by Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde’s X’s and O’s hockey acumen and vision for the team. The move also gives Kane a chance to reunite with one of his favorite linemates in Chicago, Alex DeBrincat.
Throughout the rehab process, Kane was in touch with other athletes who had hip resurfacing, including Washington Capitals center Nicklas Backstrom, who recently stepped away from the game, as well as tennis star Andy Murray.
The Red Wings are in a seven-year playoff drought, but they are starting to show signs of progress in the rebuild. As of Tuesday, Detroit is in third place in the Atlantic Division with a 11-6-3 record.
Wisconsin will start true freshman quarterback Carter Smith at No. 2 Indiana on Saturday, sources told ESPN’s Pete Thamel, replacing Danny O’Neil after the sophomore was carted off the field with a right leg injury last week.
O’Neil was injured on a 21-yard keeper during the first quarter of last Saturday’s 13-10 win over then-No. 23 Washington. He had a towel over his head as he was carted to the locker room.
Smith made his season debut following O’Neil’s injury, completing 3 of 12 passes for 8 yards while rushing for 47 yards and a touchdown.
Also available to the Badgers at quarterback is senior Hunter Simmons, who is 48-for-95 for 485 yards with two touchdowns and five interceptions this season.
For Indiana, wide receiver Elijah Sarratt is doubtful to play, sources said. Sarratt, who is tied for the Big Ten lead with 10 touchdown receptions, injured his hamstring against Maryland on Nov. 1 and missed the Penn State game last week.
With Indiana having a bye next week, Sarratt is on track to return against Purdue on Nov. 28.
Quarterback issues have hindered Wisconsin all season and throughout coach Luke Fickell’s three-year tenure.
Billy Edwards Jr. was Wisconsin’s first-team quarterback at the start of the season, but he sprained his knee in the second quarter of the Badgers’ opener and has played only one full series since.
Tanner Mordecai missed 3½ games with a broken hand in 2023. Miami transfer Tyler Van Dyke tore his ACL in the third game of the 2024 season.
Wisconsin’s intended season-opening starting quarterback has been available for the entirety of only 11 of the 34 games the Badgers have played since the beginning of the 2023 season. The last time Fickell had his season-opening starting quarterback healthy for a full game was in a 27-13 victory over South Dakota on Sept. 7, 2024.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
UCLA quarterback Nico Iamaleava will not play Saturday against No. 1 Ohio State because of a concussion, sources confirmed to ESPN.
Iamaleava was injured during last week’s loss to Nebraska. He began experiencing concussion symptoms after the game, according to On3, which first reported that Iamaleava would not play.
With Iamaleava out, redshirt sophomore Luke Duncan will make his first career start. Duncan has not attempted a pass in college as he tries to take down the top-ranked Buckeyes.
Iamaleava has thrown for 1,659 yards with 12 touchdowns and 7 interceptions in his first year with the Bruins after transferring from Tennessee.
He led UCLA to three straight wins in October, including a victory over then-No. 7 Penn State, but the Bruins (3-6) have lost two straight and need to win out to become bowl eligible.
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