Patrick Kane has been in the NHL trade rumors mill for the past 6 months with speculation that he will stay with the Chicago Blackhawks and break all scoring records the Blackhawks have.
Most NHL analysts still believe he will be traded by the NHL trade deadline, but what teams have interest in acquiring the skilled forward and do they have the assets to make a trade?
Top 5 destinations for a Patrick Kane trade
- New York Rangers – The Blueshirts have been the #1 destination for a Patrick Kane trade since the NHL rumors started in the summer.
The NY Rangers have two first round picks they can offer up and they have some young studs in Alexis Lafrenière or Kaapo Kakko they could part with if they are serious about a Stanley Cup run. - Colorado Avalanche – The Avs want to repeat. Injuries have decimated the team the past 6 weeks but when everyone is back and healthy, the Avalanche are the team to beat in the West. They still want to add some scoring punch to the second line and a Patrick Kane trade will add that and more.
- Pittsburgh Penguins – The Penguins would have to give up their first round selection and a blue chip prospect to land Patrick Kane. Like the Bruins, Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang are nearing the end of their careers and this could be their last chance to win the Stanley Cup.
- Carolina Hurricanes – The Hurricanes are an elite team and one of the Stanley Cup favorites. But they do lack scoring and Patrick Kane would help with that issue. But rumors have the team more interested in a Bo Horvat trade than making a move on Kane.
- Toronto Maple Leafs – Patrick Kane has been tied to the Maple Leafs since the offseason. It could be the Toronto media pushing this trade. Kane is good buddies with Auston Matthews and the Leafs need to win now for head coach Sheldon Keefe and GM Kyle Dubas to keep their jobs.
The Leafs have the assets to pull off a Kane trade but do they look at a Jakob Chychrun trade instead?
What will Patrick Kane do?
In closing, Kane will ultimately decide his future. Does he want to stay a Blackhawk for life or leave to get a chance at winning another Stanley Cup?
One option that Kane could look at is accept a trade to a Stanley Cup contender at the NHL trade deadline and then re-sign with the Blackhawks in the summer on a three-four year deal to end his career as a Blackhawk.
What are fans saying about a Patrick Kane trade?
Any team, regardless of cap space can make a move for Kane if they want to badly enough. All it takes is salary retention and the willingness to trade away some existing salary. Practical? Probably not. Possible? Absolutely.
Dallas or Vegas will be all-in on Patrick Kane
