Patrick Kane has been one of the greatest players in Chicago Blackhawks history. He has also been one of the league’s top players for over a decade and is a lock to make the Hockey Hall of Fame. With Kane in the final year of his contract, the Blackhawks star will almost certainly be wearing another jersey in late February.
Kane’s Blackhawks are currently tied for the worst record in the NHL. His best days are clearly behind him. It remains to be seen how useful the 34-year-old winger will be on another team. He’ll undoubtedly have an impact and benefit any team that trades for him.
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Where will Patrick Kane land?
1) New York Rangers
Rangers star Artemi Panerin has already voiced his excitement at the possibility of teaming up with Kane again in the Big Apple. Kane will likely be intrigued by the idea of being on a Cup-contending Rangers team. He has proven that he can handle the pressure of playing for a big-market team. Kane would thrive playing under the bright lights at Madison Square Garden.
Any NHL team that trades for Patrick Kane will have to pay a steep price and free up salary cap space. The Rangers are no exception. Unfortunately, they don’t have a lot of movable contracts. They may have to part ways with former first-overall pick Alexis Lafereiere to make a deal happen.
2) Vegas Golden Knights
In the ultra-competitive Pacific Division, the Vegas Golden Knights will have to “keep up with the joneses” in order to stay relevant in a packed playoff race. Bringing Patrick Kane to ‘Sin City’ would accomplish this and more.
Vegas is in a tighter cap squeeze than any other team in the league. They may have to move some older veterans who are key contributors in order to make the money work. Franchise cornerstones like Alex Martinez, Jonathan Marchessault, and/or Reilly Smith would likely head to Chicago in any trade involving Patrick Kane.
3) Los Angeles Kings
The LA Kings have been one of the biggest surprises this season. Adding Patrick Kane to a team that already has one of the league’s top-scoring offenses would make them a legitimate Stanley Cup contender.
The Kings will have to clear at least six million in cap space to get a trade to work. They might have to part ways with an expiring contract like Jonathan Quick and fully buy into the Pheonix Copley hype train. The Blackhawks could also send back Petr Mrazek to satisfy the Kings’ goalie concerns.
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