Recovery period for hip resurfacing surgery is typically 4-6 months. Washington Capitals center Nicklas Backstrom had the same procedure on his left hip June 17, 2022. He returned Jan. 8 of last season, about 6 1/2 months removed from surgery, but announced Nov. 1 that he was taking time away from hockey because of "my ongoing injury situation."
"It's been a long road, so obviously excited to get back in and hopefully Thursday, but definitely excited to start playing again," Kane said Tuesday. "I don't think it's as much about the body anymore as it is about just the game speed. These guys are 25 games into the season so obviously the intensity has ramped up and everyone's kind of at the top of their game, so just trying to find that as quick as possible. I don't doubt it might take a little bit but try to get there as fast as I can.
Kane's eight-year contract he signed with the Chicago Blackhawks on July 9, 2014, expired after last season, one he finished with the Rangers after he was acquired in a three-team trade that also involved the Arizona Coyotes on Feb. 28. He had 12 points (five goals, seven assists) in 19 games with New York and 45 points (16 goals, 29 assists) in 54 games with Chicago.
"He's an elite player in this League," Red Wings defenseman Olli Maatta said Wednesday. "I think he's shown that for many years now. I think every time you play against him, you have to know when he is on the ice and where he is. There's only a couple of those in this league and I think you can see in the little while he's been here, he's hungry to get back out there. ... I think everybody the first couple of practices just kind of stopped and stared at him handle the puck a little bit because it's been a while. I think most of us have been watching him [since we grew up]."
Kane and Red Wings forward Alex DeBrincat played together for five seasons with the Blackhawks from 2017-22.
"We'll probably start [Kane] with DeBrincat, maybe a couple different centers, we're undecided on that yet but I think we'll be smart how we use him," Lalonde said. "... We'll probably have a target minute-wise on with what we want to do with him. ... Obviously he feels really good ... It's just been difficult because he's joining us at a time where we just have a slew of games. We just haven't been able to practice as much as we'd probably (have) liked."
The three-time Stanley Cup champion with the Blackhawks (2010, 2013, 2015), Kane was voted the Conn Smythe Trophy winner as most valuable player of the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs and won the 2015-16 Hart Trophy as NHL MVP, when he led the League with 106 points (46 goals, 60 assists) to also win the Art Ross Trophy. He was also voted winner of the Ted Lindsay Award for most outstanding player by members of the NHL Players' Association that season and won the Calder Trophy in 2007-08 as rookie of the year when he led first-year players with 72 points (21 goals, 51 assists).
"I mean, try not to put too much pressure on myself, right?" Kane said. "I feel like throughout my career, I've always been a guy that's been counted on to, whether it's score goals for the team or provide offense or be good in pressure moments and in the biggest moments of the game, so I'm trying to have fun with that a little bit more. And then, like I said, just build myself back up as we go along here."
NHL.com independent correspondent Heather Engel contributed to this report
