Patrick Kane finally reveals why he had to walk away from Detroit

There was hope earlier this summer that Patrick Kane would be returning to the Detroit Red Wings for another season. The future Hall of Famer had spoken fondly about his time with the organization, highlighted his close bond with teammate Alex DeBrincat, and expressed a desire to help bring playoff hockey back to Little Caesars Arena.

But that's not how the story ended since Kane ultimately signed a two-year, $16 million deal with the Chicago Blackhawks, reuniting with the franchise where he won three Stanley Cups.

During an appearance on the Pardon My Take podcast, the veteran forward shed some light on what shifted his thinking.

"If you would've asked me last year at the end of the season, I thought I would be going back to Detroit. And you know, things happen, and then it's like, 'Okay, let's just take our time, see what's out there July 1st,'" Kane said. He added that Blackhawks owner Danny Wirtz called him at 11:03 a.m., just minutes after free agency officially opened.

Kane didn't elaborate on what those "things" were, but the timeline tells its own story.

Red Wings star Dylan Larkin reportedly requested a trade in early June, a bombshell that became public knowledge and rocked the franchise. Larkin and the organization remain at an impasse, with the forward allegedly willing to accept a deal to only three teams, severely limiting Detroit's leverage in trade discussions.

Then, in mid-July, general manager Steve Yzerman stepped down from his position, a stunning move that sent shockwaves through the fanbase. As of late July, the Red Wings still had not named an official replacement.

That combination of upheaval would give any free agent pause, let alone one weighing whether a team could finally snap a franchise-record 10-year playoff drought.

Kane's departure leaves a notable hole in Detroit's top six. He recorded 57 points with the Red Wings last season. The club did bring in veteran winger Viktor Arvidsson, who tallied 25 goals with the Boston Bruins in 2025-26, but fully replacing Kane's production will be difficult without further roster moves.

If Larkin is eventually traded as well, the Red Wings' already slim playoff hopes would take yet another significant hit. Losing two key forwards from an already struggling lineup would make an uphill climb even steeper.

Detroit faces a pivotal offseason with no GM in place, a disgruntled captain, and one of the franchise's most popular recent players headed back to Chicago, perhaps because of all the behind-the-scenes turmoil…