How Patrick Kane’s injury affects Red Wings’ front six and power play – Hockey Writer – Detroit Red Wings

The storyline for Detroit Red Wings’ Patrick Kane has taken a disturbing turn. The veteran winger signed a one-year contract worth $3 million this summer and became a key cog in Detroit’s effort to end its nine-season playoff drought in 2025-26. He’s off to a strong start, with five points (two goals, three assists, and a minus-2 rating) in five games. Then, on Oct. 19, Detroit confirmed that Kane would miss the upcoming game against the Edmonton Oilers due to an upper-body injury after hitting the backboard the night before in a win over the Tampa Bay Lightning.

RELATED: Red Wings Weekly #4 – Wings’ Great Western Swing

Before the injury, Kane’s performance in 2024-25 showed he still had potential: 72 games, 21 goals, 38 assists, 59 points, and a minus-16 rating. While not in his prime, these numbers prove he can crack the top six. His five-run start reinforced his presence early in the 2025-26 season.

How Detroit fared without Kane

Since Kane’s injury, the Red Wings have gone 6-2-0, which at first glance is an impressive result. They have remained very competitive and avoided any major setbacks in the standings. However, when you look beyond wins and losses, his absence is still noticeable. The front six didn’t consistently generate offense, and in tighter games, Detroit missed Kane’s playmaking and ability to calm games down in critical moments.

Kane is expected to bring finishing ability and veteran production; two decades after a Hall of Fame career, he has over 1,300 career points. Without him, the Red Wings will rely on younger players and the offense will shift beyond what they planned. For example, the power play that Kane often impacts is put to the test without his skills.

Deep into the game: Detroit showed depth and toughness in a 4-2 win over Edmonton. Then there was a 4-2 loss to the Sabers in Buffalo, followed by a 7-2 win over the New York Islanders the next night. These two losses highlighted the issues that a reliable finisher like Kane can help alleviate. Subsequent bounce-back wins (6-4 against the St. Louis Blues, and 5-2 in the rematch) left Detroit relying on players like Dylan Larkin, Moritz Seidel and emerging forward Emmitt Finney to provide urgency rather than Kane’s veteran polish.

Records may show ability, but narratives reveal team dynamics. They’re not simply replacing the veteran who scored 59 points; They are trying to reinvent themselves around absence and find an identity beyond big names.

Why Kane’s return is important

When Kane returns, he won’t just bring offense, although that’s important. He brings calmness in tight games, experience in high-leverage moments, and is a finisher who can turn momentum around when the margins are slim. Detroit is relying on youth as it rebuilds under general manager Steve Yzerman, but playoff hockey requires a combination of young legs and old minds. Kane is one of those old heads.

For now, Detroit will be testing its system without him: Can the top unit function without its veteran presence, can the power play survive, and can the structure built by head coach Todd McClellan hold up when games get tight? If the team can continue to win without Kane, it is a sign of strength. If they stumble, you’ll hear whispers of “imagine him when he comes back.”

Kane’s presence will also allow young players to fit into appropriate roles rather than being forced into duties they may not be ready for. He will bring balance to a roster filled with youth and promise.

Red Wings must continue to make up for Kane’s absence

Kane’s injury isn’t just a personal setback; it’s strategic for Detroit. The Red Wings have maintained a 6-2-0 formation without him, so the team is adapting but lacks the fluidity and directional clarity that Kane provides in the front six. When he returns, the expectation isn’t just that he scores (although he will), but that he elevates the team’s profile, stabilizes the front, and helps Detroit transition from a promising team to a legitimate one. Until then, the question remains: Can the young core carry the load without its veteran core?