Patrick Kane not expected to sign contract prior to season

Patrick Kane is not expected to sign a contract with an NHL team prior to the 2023-24 season, his agent said Thursday.

The 34-year-old forward had hip resurfacing surgery June 1 with an expected recovery time of 4-6 months.

ESPN first reported that Kane is unlikely to be under contract before the season.

"This is an unusual situation, and I'm very, very comfortable with that situation because I know he's an amazing player and I can't wait to see him going 100 percent," Pat Brisson told NHL.com. "He's going to be an amazing asset for many teams. I'm looking forward to, I would say sit and watch, but I manage that side at the appropriate time."

As for Kane's progress following surgery, Brisson said, "He's doing great in his rehab. I would say right on target. I hate to put timelines or put him ahead of the schedule, so on and so forth, but he's doing great. He's doing fantastic, first and foremost. Yeah, so everything is going in the right direction."

The season begins Oct. 10.

Asked whether Kane is seeking a one-year contract or multiyear deal, Brisson said, "My best advice to him, based on the type of player that he is -- and he's a fantastic player, he's arguably, probably the best American who's ever played the game -- I look at Patrick, this surgery will put him in the position where he'll feel great. He played with an injury for a year and a half or so, he had to deal with it and now I can't wait for the moment when he's cleared and he feels great. At that point, that's why I'm not saying anything like, whether he does a one- or two- or three- or four- or five-year deal, at that point we'll see where teams are at, where the possibilities are at, the [NHL salary] cap's going up next year.

"Sitting here in July, we can predict all we want where teams are going to be in November and December, and that's when Patrick should be coming back. Why don't we wait [until] around that time and look at where teams are at and how he feels and before we make decision to explore a short- or a longer-term deal. I don't want to speculate because I'm not there yet."

Kane last spoke to the media May 3, two days after he and the New York Rangers were eliminated by the New Jersey Devils in seven games in the Eastern Conference First Round. At the time, he was still undecided on having surgery but said, "We're going to have to find a way to get me back to as close as 100 percent as possible."

"I'm turning 35 next year, but it's not like I feel old," Kane said. "I still feel pretty young, and I feel like the passion is still there. I know that I can be a top player if my focus is solely on hockey instead of how I feel that day."

The No. 1 pick by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2007 NHL Draft, Kane has 1,237 points (451 goals, 786 assists) in 1,180 regular-season games for the Blackhawks and Rangers, who acquired him in a trade with Chicago on Feb. 28. He also has 138 points (53 goals, 85 points) in 143 Stanley Cup Playoff games.

Kane 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), trailing Mikita (1,396) and Duncan Keith (1,192).

He won the Stanley Cup with the Blackhawks in 2010, 2013 and 2015 and also won the Calder Trophy, voted as the NHL rookie of the year, in 2007-08. Kane won the Conn Smythe Trophy voted as most valuable player of the playoffs in 2013.

Kane was one of the cornerstones of the Blackhawks, along with center Jonathan Toews, who has been captain since July 18, 2008. However, prior to their final regular-season game last season on April 13, the Blackhawks announced that they would not re-sign Toews.

Toews and Kane each was in the final season of an eight-year contract he signed July 9, 2014.

"Him and Johnny wanted to retire as 'Hawks," Brisson told ESPN. "But unfortunately, things worked out differently."

NHL.com staff writer Tracey Myers contributed to this report