Patrick Kane working out in Oakville in hopes of NHL return

NHL superstar Patrick Kane, who is unsigned as he rehabs from hip surgery in June, has been working out in Oakville with the aim of returning to the league by the end of the year.

Kane, the 2016 Hart Trophy winner and a three-time Stanley Cup champion, has been spotted training at both the Oakville Hockey Academy on Speers Road and Canlan Ice Sports on Cornwall Road. Both facilities are privately held so Kane’s practice sessions weren’t affected by the eight-day Oakville facility operator strike that ended Monday.

Kane is rumored to have met with the Toronto Maple Leafs Tuesday, though it is unknown how the Leafs – who are hard up against the salary cap – could afford to sign him.

Patrick Kane with a young goalie at Canlan Ice Sports in Oakville recently. Photo Steve Rowe (Twitter)

Detroit, Tampa Bay, Dallas, Florida and Kane’s hometown Buffalo Sabres are also in the running, though reports out of New York say the Rangers – who traded for him last year and are off to a red-hot start to the season – are no longer interested.

Kane, a future first-ballot hall of famer, has 451 goals and 1,237 points in 1,180 career games – all but 12 of those points in a Chicago Black Hawks jersey – to rank second in points (behind Stan Mikita) and third in goals and games played in Black Hawk history.

Patrick Kane, who has been training in Oakville, Ontario…is beginning the process of meeting with teams…Hearing he met with the Toronto Maple Leafs today.

— John Shannon (@JShannonhl) November 15, 2023