The Detroit Red Wings look to be missing veteran winger Patrick Kane for the upcoming season. After three years in Detroit, the 37-year-old hasn’t re-signed with Dylan Larkin’s trade request hanging over the team like a dark cloud.

Noise continues to grow around Kane’s hometown of Buffalo as a potential landing spot. Without Kane, Detroit’s second line breaks up, and much of their 5v5 scoring from last season disappears. To that end, there are still some options out on the market.

Eeli Tolvanen continues to be linked as a potential free agent target for the Red Wings. The former Kraken forward provides some flexibility to play on either wing spot and played at about a half point per game pace last year. Other options include Patrick Laine, though there have been no official links to the former Canadiens forward.

The Red Wings would have to bet on a bounce back season from the former no. 2 overall pick after he played in only five games last year. However, beggars can’t be choosers in a very shallow free agent market.

On the home front, or close to it, the World Junior Summer Showcase is now under two weeks away from starting in Windsor. Three Red Wings prospects were selected to represent Team USA from their most recent draft classes. That trio of representatives includes both first round pick JP Hurlbert and second round pick Victor Plante of the Red Wings 2026 draft class.

Defenseman Brent Solomon, the Red Wings fourth round pick in the 2025 draft will also join the two forwards across the bridge from Hockeytown representing the US. The US junior team will face some stacked Canadian and Swedish teams featuring names like Gavin McKenna, Ivar Stenberg, and Viggo Bjorck from the top ten of this year’s draft.

In Case You Missed It

The Red Wings could learn a thing or two from PWHL Detroit’s roster building strategy.

Bob Duff goes in depth on two of the Red Wings late round draft picks from the 2026 class.

Red Wings Extra

It was 36 years ago today that the Red Wings made the choice to name Bryan Murray as head coach and general manager of the team. That moved former general manager Jim Devellano to the seat of vice president of the Red Wings. He’s stayed with the organization in an unbroken tenure since.

`Meanwhile, Murray only lasted three years as head coach, and had one more in the gm chair, with notable draft choices including Darren McCarty and Chris Osgood.

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