by By Arthur Staple, Mark Lazerus and Scott Powers
The New York Rangers are acquiring forward Patrick Kane from the Chicago Blackhawks for a conditional second-round pick in 2023 and a fourth-round pick, a source close to Kane says. The Athletic. Here’s what you need to know:
- The second-round pick will become a first-round pick in either 2024 or 2025 if the Rangers reach the conference finals, according to ESPN.
- Kane (34) has 16 goals and 29 assists in 54 games this season.
- He has played his entire 16-year career in Chicago, totaling 1,161 games, 446 goals and 779 assists.
- The Rangers are 34-17-19 and in third place in the Metro Division while the Blackhawks are 21-33-5, last in the Central Division.
Background story
The Patrick Kane trade saga appears to have finally reached its conclusion on Tuesday afternoon, with the star striker heading to New York after the Rangers made a number of moves over the past few days. On Saturday, the Rangers traded Vitali Kravtsov to Vancouver and placed Jake Leschyshyn on waivers. In Sunday’s 5-2 win over LA, the team dressed and sat defenseman Braden Schneider — who was sent to the AHL after the game — and forward Ryan Carpenter.
Kane’s open disappointment over the Rangers’ trade of Vladimir Tarasenko — more than three weeks before the March 3 trade deadline — was the clearest signal yet that the Blackhawks star was strongly considering waiving his no-movement clause and asking out of Chicago. This past weekend, he left the team’s road trip amid trade speculation.
Kane has spent his entire 16-year career with Chicago after the team selected him No. 1 overall in the 2007 NHL Draft.
How the Rangers got here
The trade that everyone knew was coming has finally happened, and Kane will make his Rangers debut in Philadelphia on Wednesday. Rangers GM Chris Drury contorted his roster to make the cap demands fit, he didn’t give up a straight first-round pick — the 2023 runner-up in the deal could become a 2024 or 2025 first if the Rangers make the Eastern Conference finals again — and the Rangers get a highly motivated star player who has told people he’d like to reunite with Artemi Panarin since Panarin signed with the Rangers four years ago.
A source close to Kane said he waived his no-trade clause to facilitate the deal on Sunday. Now, the Rangers have 22 games left in the regular season to figure out where Kane fits best, how to distribute power-play time among the stars and whether this move is what can put the Rangers in position to get out of a crowded Eastern Conference. . — Staple
What does Kane have left in the tank?
At 34, Kane has spent most of this season in the worst campaign of his career. But the tanking was clearly weighing on him, and he played alongside the likes of Max Domi, Andreas Athanasiou, Jason Dickinson and Philipp Kurashev. Determined to go out strong, Kane reminded everyone just how good he can be — after all, he posted a career-high 92 points with 66 assists last season — by going on an absolute tear with seven goals and three assists in his four last. play as a Blackhawk.
Kane’s game is not based on speed or strength, but rather on shifting, creativity and some of the best vision of his generation. He’s an installation wizard, but he also has deadly skill abilities, constantly outclassing his targets. And the last time he played alongside Panarin, he was the league’s MVP. There is a lot left in the tank. — Lazerus
What does this mean for the Blackhawks?
First, it is the end of an era. Kane was drafted by the Blackhawks with the No. 1 overall pick in 2007 and went on to be their most important player ever. He leaves the organization third in games (1,161), third in goals (446), second in assists (779) and second in points (1,225). More than that, he came through when the games mattered most and helped the Blackhawks to three Stanley Cups. In 136 playoff games, he produced 132 points, including 52 goals and 80 assists. He will undoubtedly have his No. 88 retired and probably get a statue one day.
From a trade standpoint, Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson has to be disappointed. The Blackhawks were always going to do right by Kane, but they were hoping there would be a situation where moving Kane would bring a decent package back. Ideally, they would have liked a first-round pick and a quality prospect. When Kane waited to make a decision as long as he did, and then left the Blackhawks with only one team to negotiate with, Davidson lost steam. He was in a corner and Rangers knew it too. — Forces
Compulsory reading
(Photo: Jerome Miron / USA Today)
