Operated, Patrick Kane could miss the start of the next season

Patrick Kane underwent hip resurfacing on Thursday and could miss the start of next season.

The 34-year-old forward, who could become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, has 57 points (21 goals, 36 assists) in 73 regular season games 2022-23, including 12 in 19 games since he was acquired from the Blackhawks on Feb. 28.

Kane added six points in the playoffs as the Rangers were eliminated in the first round of the spring tournament by the New Jersey Devils.

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Elliott Friedman of the Sportsnet network was the first to report news of the operation.

« Patrick made this choice because he wants to keep playing, » his agent, Pat Brisson, told NHL.com. “The operation went well. We are convinced that he will be able to play the next season and several others. »

After Rangers were eliminated, Kane said he wanted to know soon if he would have to have surgery for a « lower body injury » that had been bothering him for a few seasons.

« I’m going to be 35, but I don’t feel old. I still feel young and passionate. I know I can be one of the best players if my only concern is my level of play and not my state of health,” he said.

Only two players have returned to NHL games after hip resurfacing: Nicklas Backstromwho returned to action on January 8, then Ed Jovanovski, who returned in 2013-14.

Chicago’s first overall pick in the 2007 draft, Kane has 1,237 points (451 goals, 786 assists) in 1,180 career regular season games with the Blackhawks and Rangers. He is second in Blackhawks history in points (1,225) and assists (779), behind Stan Mikita (1,467 points, 926 assists), third in goals (446), behind Bobby Hull (604) and Mikita (541), and third in games played (1,161), behind Mikita (1,396) and Duncan Keith (1,192).

Kane won the Stanley Cup with the Blackhawks in 2010, 2013 and 2015. He also won the Calder Trophy, awarded to the NHL’s rookie of the year, in 2008 as well as the Conn-Smythe Trophy, awarded to the player more useful to his team in the playoffs in 2013.

In 2016, he won the Hart Trophy as most valuable player to his team, the Ted-Lindsay Trophy, as the best player according to his peers, and the Art-Ross Trophy, awarded to the NHL’s leading scorer.