Patrick Kane explains why he picked Detroit

The Detroit Red Wings made a significant acquisition by signing former Chicago Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane to a one-year contract today worth $2.75 million. However, fans who are anticipating to see Kane's Red Wings debut come against his former teams—the New York Rangers and Blackhawks—will need to exercise some patience as they await his first appearance in a Red Wings jersey. 

Kane himself stated shortly after taking part in his first morning skate with his new teammates that the plan is to wait just a bit longer for his anticipated first game. 

"You get out there this morning and you’re skating and you feel like you can get out there and play," Kane said. "But I think just in general, taking to the training staff and Steve and the coaches, we portably want to give it a little more time, get me up to speed, get in a few practices with the team. Don’t rush into it."

Right now, it sounds like it will be at least a week until he hits the ice in game action for Detroit, who have a pair of games upcoming at Little Caesars Arena on December 7 and 9 against the San Jose Sharks and Ottawa Senators, respectively.

Kane had been considering several teams, among them reportedly being the Florida Panthers, Toronto Maple Leafs, and his hometown Buffalo Sabres. But as he puts it, the Red Wings were always in the back of his head. 

"Throughout the whole thing, Detroit was in the back of my mind, Detroit was - it almost felt like it was in my heart. When I was thinking about something else, I would always come back to Detroit."

To say that Kane is anticipating playing for the Red Wings would be an understatement. Despite having been a member of the bitter rival Chicago Blackhawks for so long that included a pair of intense postseason series, the future Hall of Famer has always loved the Red Wings sweater.

"I think it's an incredible franchise, incredible organization," he said. "I think the jersey is beautiful, too, even though you've played against them and hate them there for a while, it's such a beautiful jersey."

And of course, having his former lineman in Alex DeBrincat certainly didn't hurt things.

"There are a lot of reasons, Alex (DeBrincat) is definitely one of them," he said.

"Just the chemistry we’ve had on the ice the last couple of years in Chicago there (and) he’s become one of my better friends around the league off the ice,” Kane continued of DeBrincat. “I really like kind of where they’re going as far as the team and they’re really building something that I think is going to have a lot of success here, so I’d like to be part of that.

Recommended articles:

• Steve Yzerman speaks for 1st time since Patrick Kane signing
• Daniel Sprong announces his new sweater number
• Patrick Kane's timeline for Red Wings debut leaked
• Discouraging health update released on Dylan Larkin
• Patrick Kane picks his sweater number with Red Wings