DETROIT, MI - DECEMBER 31: Some Detroit Red Wings fans having some New Years Eve fun during the second period of an NHL game against the Ottawa Senators at Little Caesars Arena on December 31, 2022 in Detroit, Michigan. Detroit defeated Ottawa 4-2. (Photo by Dave Reginek/NHLI via Getty Images)
Detroit Red Wings get Patrick Kane back and are totally healed in time for the playoffs.
Patrick Kane is about to get the lineup he expected when he joined the Detroit Red Wings, and it’s just in time.
For the first time since his arrival in early December, the Wings have all 23 players healthy. The entire squad went through a nice 45-minute workout Thursday in preparation for Saturday’s matinee against the Vancouver Canucks, the Wings’ first game after a long layoff.
Kane, defenseman Ben Chiarot, and goaltender Ville Husso all missed significant amounts of time in January due to injury.
“It’s great to be fully healthy and we can really build our game here going into the playoffs,” Kane said in a statement. “We have 32 games left — some big, available points on the line and we have to take advantage of every game.”
Alex Lyon is expected to start, which makes sense given that his strong play helped the Wings finish 9-2-2 in January. He’s earned the right to the top place, but having Husso ready for the first time since December 18 means the Wings won’t have to rely on Lyon like they did before the break, when he started seven straight games.
“I just have to make sure that whenever I get the call, I’m ready,” he added. “I believe we did a tremendous job both off-ice and on the ice.
“After missing nearly two months, getting healthy has become a different type of struggle. I feel energized. I haven’t played an NHL game in about two months, so I have plenty of energy and a great attitude. There is still a lot of hockey to play, and staying over the line will be difficult.”
Kane practiced on a line with J.T. Compher and David Perron, while Chiarot returned to a combination with Jeff Petry.
The Wings have not been this healthy in months. When Kane made his debut on December 7, Compher was injured. Dylan Larkin suffered an injury in the next game, on December 9, and David Perron was suspended for six games. Then Husso and Lyon were injured, while Jake Walman missed many games due to illness.
“It’s a constant battle with attrition and getting healthy throughout the year,” coach Derek Lalonde said. “December was a disaster, as we lost our top two centers and two goalies.
“Knock on wood; we’re healthy. We’ll have to make some difficult decisions regarding scratches, but those are excellent challenges to have. You saw us in December; we had difficulties fielding a lineup with so many men out, so it’s fantastic timing to be healthy.”
Klim Kostin, based on practice, will be the odd man out in front. Olli Määttä and Justin Holl alternated in a tandem with Shayne Gostisbehere.
It’s the kind of lineup Kane expected when he chose the Wings to make his comeback from extensive hip surgery.
“That was one of the things I liked, was just the depth on the team,” he told reporters. “Every winning team I’ve been on has a lot of depth, and you can bank on different individuals throughout your lineup to step up every night — not just two or three. That’s what is intriguing about our squad.”
Chiarot has not played since departing the game on January 19 due to a chronic upper-body ailment. He has watched the last five games from the press box, providing a bird’s-eye view of how well the Wings have been playing.
“You can tell our defensive structure looks tighter, looks more in place, you could say, from up top,” he went on to remark. “That was what I noticed the most.”
The Wings (26-18-6) will meet a Canucks squad that will have played twice this week, as their extended vacation coincided with All-Star weekend. Lalonde described the Wings as “being at a disadvantage” in this aspect, although they will have two practices before Saturday. The timetable then directs them to western Canada and Seattle.
“It’s a fun time of year, playing important games,” Chiarot added. “That’s what we’ve been striving for here since I arrived, and what the organization is attempting to achieve. It will be a lot of fun.”
Email Helene St. James athstjames@freepress.com. Follow her at @helenestjames.
Read more about the Detroit Red Wings and subscribe to our Red Wings newsletter. Her recent book, “On the Clock: Behind the Scenes with the Detroit Red Wings at the NHL Draft,” is available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Triumph Books. Personalized copies are available through her e-mail.
