One week ago, NYI Hockey Now reported that Chicago Blackhawks star Patrick Kane had ‘no interest’ in joining the New York Islanders, per a league source.
Source: Blackhawks Patrick Kane Has ‘No Interest’ in Islanders
Thursday evening, NYI Hockey Now has learned that not only do the New York Rangers still have interest in Kane despite their salary cap situation, under $1 million in projected deadline cap space per CapFriendly but that Kane to the Rangers is happening as a framework for deal is being hammered out.
Per the source, Rangers prospects Vitali Kravtsov and Zachary Jones are two named in the potential deal, with picks going to a third team to help deal with the financial burden of Kane’s $10.5 million cap hit (Up to 50 percent retained by Chicago).
The New York Post reported on Wednesday that the Rangers still had interest in acquiring Kane.
After the New York Rangers acquired Vladimir Tarasenko and Niko Mikkola from the St. Louis Blues on Feb. 9, Kane told reporter Mark Lazerus that he wasn’t all too thrilled to see the trade, as the Rangers were one of the teams he was willing to go to.
TSN’s Carlo Colaiacovo has reported that the Maple Leafs were the only other team on Kane’s list besides the Rangers.
However, Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas went and acquired forwards Ryan O’Reilly and Noel Accari from the St. Louis Blues in a three-team trade on Feb. 18, meaning they no longer had the room for Kane.
Kane has been on a tear lately, with seven goals and three assists over his last four games.
The 34-year-old controls his destiny, and if the Rangers are the only team he is willing to go to at this time, which seems to be the situation, Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson can either fulfill his wishes or lose him this summer for nothing.
It sounds like the fulfilling wishes part is the route they will take.
This deal has not been officially finalized.
The 2023 NHL Trade Deadline is just eight days away.
This story will be updated as we find out more.
