NHL trade rumors circulated on TSN’s free agent frenzy segment a few weeks back that Patrick Kane would be traded at some point during the season, but to which team?
Kane is likely destined to be moved to a playoff contender and the one team that keeps popping up is the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Dave Poulin was on TSN 1050 radio and he believes a Kane trade will happen and it is the Tampa Bay Lightning that will find a way to make a trade for the all-star forward.
Before everyone flips out and says how is that possible with Tampa’s salary cap situation. Here is how Poulin broke it down…
For the Lightning to land Kane, Poulin stated on his radio hit that the first step would be for the Blackhawks to retain 50% of Kane’s $10.5 million cap hit.
The second step if for another team to get involved like the Arizona Coyotes and they would retain 50% of Kane’s Coyotes cap hit which would be $2.625 million.
That would leave a Lightning salary cap hit of $2.625 million, but if Kane is not traded until later in the season, that cap hit shrinks.
Kane’s potential cap hit breakdown by teams
Chicago Blackhawks retain $5.25 million of $10.5 million on trade to Coyotes
Arizona Coyotes retain $2.625 million on $5.25 million salary cap on trade to Tampa
Tampa Bay Lightning have a $2.625 million cap hit on Kane if traded before the season starts. (Cap hit reduces as the season goes along).
The Lightning would be sending prospects, draft picks or players to Chicago and Arizona for the trade to be completed.
The breakdown above is for Tampa. A few weeks back on TSN, it was brought up that besides the Lightning being a possible trade destination, the Buffalo Sabres, Colorado Avalanche and Toronto Maple Leafs could be in on a Kane trade.
