Patrick Kane will return to the Detroit Red Wings next season after signing a deal that will earn him up to $6.5 million if he helps the team end its long playoff drought.
Kane signed a one-year contract on Sunday which, according to a person familiar with the situation, will pay the veteran striker a salary of US$4 million, with bonus clauses that could amount to US$2.5 million.
The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because terms of the deal had not been announced.
Kane, a 35-year-old winger from Buffalo who won the Stanley Cup three times with the Chicago Blackhawks from 2010 to 2015, continued to play after hip resurfacing surgery from which only two other players returned.
In his first season with the Red Wings, he came close to a point-per-game average, finishing the campaign with 20 goals and 27 assists in 50 games.
Among American-born players, only Mike Modano has more NHL points than Kane (1,284). He will start his 17e professional season.
Kane will try to help the Red Wings end an eight-season playoff drought, the longest such streak in the organization’s history, which dates back to 1926.
Earlier Sunday, the team made qualifying offers to Lucas Raymond, Moritz Seider, Jonatan Berggren and Joseph Veleno to retain their rights.