The Chicago Blackhawks seem to have made peace with losing the franchise legend Patrick Kane. According to multiple reports, the Blackhawks are putting the finishing touches on a trade that will see Kane move to the New York Rangers.
The trade with the Rangers isn’t an easy one as it requires the New York team to make some significant salary cap-clearing moves as well as the inclusion of a third team. However, it is Kane’s preferred destination, meaning the parties are committed to finding a way to make it work.
Kane had a lukewarm start to the 2022-23 NHL campaign, but his form has recently picked up, with seven goals and three assists in the last five games. He has 16 goals and 29 assists so far in the season.
Expecting his future to be resolved in the coming days, Kane decided to stay away from the team. While the Blackhawks are entering the second game of their four-game road trip but Kane has already returned to Chicago. The news was confirmed by both the team’s head coach Luke Richardson and Kane’s agent Pat Brisson.
“Based on the current status of Patrick’s situation, we collectively felt it was more appropriate to have him not play during this period of reflection,” Brisson told reporters on Saturday.
Patrick Kane spent all of his 15 and a half seasons in the NHL with the Blackhawks. During that time, he helped the franchise win three Stanley Cups while adding numerous individual accolades, including nine All-Star nods and Hart Memorial Trophy as NHL’s MVP in 2016.
