Patrick Kane's future could be key offseason topic for Red Wings

Tampa, Fla. — One of the most interesting decisions the Red Wings will have to make this offseason will be deciding on what to do with veteran forward Patrick Kane. At 37, Kane will be 38 in November, Kane isn't getting any younger, and there are games where Kane's advanced age is apparent.

But that hasn't happened much as the Wings attempted to make the playoffs over the last month, eventually being eliminated in Saturday's loss to New Jersey . Kane has 23 points in the last 20 games, dating back to March 1, and in the month of April, when the games had become most important, Kane's nine points (three goals, six assists) in six games. In a season seemingly filled with achieving monumental milestones, Kane was on the doorstep of another jaw-dropping one heading into the Wings' final two games, Monday in Tampa and Wednesday in Florida.

Kane has 1,399 points, just one point from a cool 1,400. With 56 points (16 goals, 40 assists) in 65 games this season, Kane has arguably surpassed some people's expectations and got him on the doorstep to 1,400, which wasn't a sure thing at the beginning of the season. This latest surge, though, has been particularly impressive.

"Perhaps it did," coach Todd McLellan said of whether the two-week Olympic break may have benefited Kane. "Also maybe hitting some milestones and just getting them out of the way, Maybe that helped him as well. " This season, Kane passed Westland's Mike Modano to become the highest-scoring American-born player in NHL history.