Patrick Kane Loses out on Big Money Thanks To Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman

Patrick Kane's pocketbook will feel a little bit lighter this season. The reason why? He'll be missing out on $750K in contract bonuses, which are tied to milestones the team would want him to reach this season before each bonus is paid out.

His first bonus paid him $1.5 million for playing ten games with the Red Wings this season. His next two were tied to other milestones, such as $250K for playing 60 games with the team.

He's captured $1.75 million in bonuses so far this season, just about $750K shy of the total $2.5 million added to his contract.

Why's that? The other $750K is tied to the team making the playoffs, and Kane scoring 60 points this season. He was only a point shy of capturing another $250K with that statistic, scoring 59 this year (21 goals, 38 assists) in 72 games with the Red Wings.

Now, the 1302 game NHL forward will have to consider where he plays next season, and whether or not his next contract is backloaded with bonuses in order to achieve a nice payday for another year.

He's offered quite an exceptional arsenal for the Red Wings to utilize on special teams and the top-six.

While he's not in his prime anymore, he's still a 50+ point player and missed a shot at a total payday of $6.5 million for the year.

Teams across the NHL will be on the hunt for veterans like Red Wings during the postseason, as playoff experience, scoring talent and leadership capabilities are highly-desired traits in a player.