Recovery time for ex-Blackhawk Patrick Kane revealed after injury vs. Chicago

Detroit head coach Todd McLellan confirmed that Kane, who has been out since suffering an upper-body injury on December 13 against the Chicago Blackhawks, has been progressing in his rehab. The update came after Detroit's 3-2 win over the Washington Capitals that lifted some pressure off a team dealing with injuries while still winning.

Kane has now missed four straight games, yet the Red Wings have collected a 3-1 record in that span, showing depth in his absence. John Leonard has stepped up with secondary scoring, notching three points in four games since being called up.

McLellan didn't sugarcoat it, saying Kane will not play in Tuesday's game against the Dallas Stars.

He clarified that although Kane has skated on his own and will continue to do so, a return before Christmas isn't in the cards. That sets expectations that Wednesday's contest won't see Kane either, pushing his earliest hopeful appearance to after the holidays.

There's enough in McLellan's words to give Wings fans a cautious sense of optimism. Kane's skating, even on his own, suggests the recovery is trending in the right direction. But Detroit isn't rushing him back into contact or full practices until he's genuinely ready.

At 37 years old, Kane still brings elite playmaking and scoring ability to Detroit's top six when healthy. Before the injury, he was closing in on personal milestones, including moving toward 500 career goals and chasing the mark for most points by an American-born player.

The Red Wings return home after the Stars game and will host the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday. If Kane's timeline holds, that matchup could be a real chance to get the veteran winger back in the lineup.

Detroit's ability to navigate this injury without losing ground in the Atlantic Division speaks to their depth, but Kane's eventual return is still a big piece of their push this season.