Patrick Kane has decided to rejoin the Detroit Red Wings in the NHL, ready to play again after having his hip surgically repaired, according to league sources.

According to the reports, Kane has decided to sign a one-year contract with Detroit after narrowing down his free agency alternatives over the previous several weeks.

Among the teams that expressed interest in the 35-year-old winger were the New York Rangers, Florida Panthers, Buffalo Sabres, and Toronto Maple Leafs.

After hip resurfacing surgery on June 1, Kane is making his NHL comeback. He was given a six-month rehabilitation schedule, and he essentially met that target exactly. He has been getting therapy, performing rehab work, and skating in the Greater Toronto Area for the most of the last several months.

Despite dealing with a persistent hip ailment and spending five months playing for a Chicago squad going through a complete rebuild, he just finished his NHL career with the fewest points in 73 matches involving the Chicago Blackhawks and Rangers.

After a protracted rebuilding process, Kane rejoins an organization in Detroit where he will reunite with linemate Alex DeBrincat, with whom he bonded during their time together in Chicago. DeBrincat has scored 12 goals in 20 games this season, leading the Red Wings.

With an 11-6-3 record, Detroit is guaranteed a postseason position in the very contested Atlantic Division. Finding a squad that would allow Kane to pursue another championship was one of his top goals.

Kane ranks second all-time in scoring among players born in the United States to Mike Modano with 1,237 points. He was a key part in three Stanley Cup championships with the Blackhawks, winning the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP in 2013.

In addition, he holds the Ted Lindsay Award, the Art Ross Trophy, the Hart Trophy, and the Calder Trophy. In 2017, Kane was named one of the NHL’s 100 Greatest Players.

After spending a season as a youngster playing for the Honeybaked AAA club in Farmington Hills, the Buffalo, New York native will now be reestablishing his connection to some old Michigan ties as he joins the Red Wings. He previously participated in the U.S. National club Development Program for two seasons in Ann Arbor.

Does Kane make sense for the Red Wings?

The Red Wings made a strong effort to add depth this winter, and while their offensive approach has mostly paid out (they rank among the top five teams in goals per game), they still need more firepower in the top six, which is what Kane provides.

The main concern is how he will seem following hip resurfacing surgery, but even if it limits his movement, Kane’s ability to create plays should be a strength and provide Detroit further depth at the top of their lineup. Undoubtedly, it’s exciting to consider Kane and DeBrincat together again.

He affects Detroit’s prospects of making the playoffs

It benefits them. The Red Wings, who are now in third place in the Atlantic Division, have been on fire since coming home from the NHL Global Series. It won’t be easy to stave off more skilled opponents like the Tampa Bay Lightning and Maple Leafs, but if Kane is anywhere close to his typical self, he provides them with a dynamic aspect they have sorely lost in previous years.

At age 34, he scored 57 points in 73 games even the previous year. It could be enough to push Detroit to the right side of the bubble if he can produce anything like that.