As the 2023 NHL trade deadline looms half ahead, all eyes are in the Windy City on the status of Patrick Kane.
The three-time Stanley Cup champion is one of the biggest names that could be donning a different sweater after March 3. Kane is going to be an unrestricted free agent this summer and the Blackhawks aren’t sniffing the postseason. It makes sense both for Kane and the organization to make a trade.
The biggest question is if it will happen. Kane has a full no-trade clause and GM Kyle Davidson has made it clear dating back to the summer that the verdict is Kane’s to make. The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun reported that Kane’s agent, Pat Brisson, told him that Kane is going to make his decision at some point this week.
The 34-year-old winger isn’t the player he was when he won the Hart and Art Ross Trophy. Kane is in the middle of a down year with 41 points in 52 games.
However, he’s still one of the league’s best playmakers and can help any contender that makes a move for him.
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With a trade potentially coming at some point, here are five potential destinations for Kane.
Five potential landing spots for Patrick Kane
Vegas Golden Knights
The Golden Knights have a history of trading for the big names, and there is none flashier available at the deadline than “Showtime.”
The good news is that Vegas has over $8.5 million available in cap space, thanks mostly due to Mark Stone being placed on long-term injured reserve after his back surgery. The bad news is that they are without Stone for the rest of the regular season and need to replace his production.
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While Kane can’t make up for Stone’s defensive play, he’s a right wing that can play top-line minutes. The Golden Knights have depth down the middle, but are weaker on the wings, especially without Stone.
GM Kelly McCrimmon has not shied away from trading away first-round picks and top prospects before. Plus, what player wouldn’t want to go and rip it up in Vegas for a few months while playing on a contender?
Dallas Stars
Dallas is a dominant defensive team, but the club needs help scoring. The team may be first in the Western Conference, but it’s fairly wide open and the Stars are ranked 15th in goals per game this year. Someone like Kane would be a great addition to the Stars.
A second-line winger has been a need for the Stars all season long. Head coach Peter DeBoer has tried a number of players at the position, including Denis Gurianov, Ty Dellandrea and most recently, Tyler Seguin, but none have been a fit.
Kane could be if he’s interested in Dallas. The path to the conference finals, on paper, is easier in the West than the East, so if Kane is solely looking to win, Dallas fits that mold.
It doesn’t help that the Stars don’t have a first-round pick this year and GM Jim Nill could be hesitant to send off his 2024 pick as well. But if the Stars can work a deal with the Blackhawks to bring Kane down to the Lone Star State, their chances of coming out of the Western Conference would greatly improve.
New York Rangers
When the Rangers traded for Vladimir Tarasenko, people thought that put them out of the Kane sweepstakes. Even Kane himself said that he wasn’t the happiest about the news since he saw New York as an intriguing option.
However, the Rangers reportedly remain in play as a trade partner, the Blackhawks but are going to need to shed cap to do so.
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The easy answer is to waive Vitali Kravtsov, who already has requested a trade out of New York. That would shed $2 million in cap space, proving a little more room for New York. Chicago would still need to retain some of Kane’s salary, or a third party would need to be brought into the deal to take on money.
Bringing in Kane would add a skilled playmaker to a Rangers’ top-six group that already has Mika Zibanejad, Chris Kreider, Vincent Trocheck, Tarasenko and Artemi Panarin, who Kane had success playing with in Chicago.
There would be very few clubs out there that could say they have a better first two forward lines if it were to happen.
Carolina Hurricanes
It feels like the Hurricanes still need one more piece on offense. The thought was that Max Pacioretty would be the reinforcement needed after missing the first half of the season with a torn Achilles, but he immediately re-injured the tendon after five games and won’t be back this year.
Kane isn’t the shoot-first wing like Pacioretty is, but he would still be a great addition and one that the Hurricanes have inquired about. Carolina has one of the deepest forward groups in the league and adding someone like Kane could put the team over the top.
The question is would Kane waive his no-trade clause for Carolina? In terms of their market, they can’t compete with the likes of New York or Vegas. A move to Raleigh would certainly be a step back from Chicago, but the Hurricanes are the second-best team in the league.
The allure of another Cup could be enough for Kane to agree to a Hurricanes trade.
Edmonton Oilers
Last year, the Oilers brought in Evander Kane in the middle of the season, which wound up being a perfect fit as he helped the team on its run to the Western Conference Final. Could GM Ken Holland bring in another Kane to assist this year?
The cap is an issue. If Holland can trade Jesse Puljujarvi, which seems imminent, that could clear some salary. But the Blackhawks would need to retain some of Kane’s cap hit in order for a deal to be brokered.
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And don’t get me wrong — Edmonton’s No. 1 concern at the deadline is to address the blue line. The Oilers’ biggest weakness is their defense and they have to add someone. Only the Kings rank lower in goals allowed per game among playoff contenders in the conference.
With that said, the Oilers would be adding one of the league’s premier passers to a forward group that already is first in the league in goals per game. The offense is scary enough with Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Zach Hyman, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Evander Kane.
Add the Blackhawks’ Kane to the mix, and that’s a nightmare for the opposition.