After the Chicago Blackhawks played the New York Rangers last Saturday, media speculation has again linked Patrick Kane to Manhattan.
Anticipation over whether Patrick Kane will accept a trade or remain with the Chicago Blackhawks has been ongoing since the off-season. With the calendar flipped to December and the Blackhawks struggling, some observers wonder if the 34-year-old winger will agree to a trade to the New York Rangers and a reunion with Artemi Panarin.
Kane and Panarin were teammates for two seasons with the Blackhawks until the latter was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2017. On Dec. 3, The Athletic's Scott Powers and Arthur Staple mused over the possibility of the one-time linemates reuniting if Kane agrees to waive his no-movement clause before the March 3 trade deadline.
An unrestricted free agent in July, Kane could decide to chase another Stanley Cup as a playoff rental and then test his luck next summer on the open market. His no-movement clause keeps him in total control over this situation.
Powers and Staple believe the Blackhawks' asking price for Kane and half of his remaining salary could be a first-round pick and a top prospect. They also claimed that Kane and Panarin would love to play together again one day, but both players know that such a move isn't easy to pull off.
The New York Post's Mollie Walker observed the Rangers have two first-round picks in the 2023 draft to draw upon for trade bait. She doubted they'll part with top prospect Brennan Othmann, but Powers and Staple suggested including Kaapo Kakko or Vitali Kravtsov as part of the return.