Detroit Red Wings veteran Patrick Kane is confident he'll be in the lineup when the club returns from All-Star festivities and the ensuing bye week.
"I don't see any reason why I wouldn't be able to come back after the break," Kane said Tuesday.
Kane has missed six games since suffering a lower-body injury against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Jan. 14. Detroit takes on the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday and then is off until Feb. 10.
The 35-year-old asserted that the injury has nothing to do with the hip he had surgically repaired over the offseason.
"Nothing with the hip, which is good," Kane said. "The hip feels really good, to be honest with you. At the same time, it's frustrating when it's feeling good and something else comes up and shows up. But, you know, I guess you try to find the positives in every situation, and maybe it gives me a few weeks to let everything settle down."
Kane joined the Red Wings on a one-year deal in November and racked up 16 points in 19 games before his injury. Detroit currently occupies the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference with 57 points.
