Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews Could Start The Season With The Blackhawks

The Chicago Blackhawks' roster rebuild has made franchise stars Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews the subject of trade gossip this summer. However, we shouldn't be surprised if both are in the lineup when the Blackhawks open their season.

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Kane, 33, and the 34-year-old Toews are entering the final season of their contracts. While both carry no-movement clauses, there's speculation over whether they'd accept getting traded before the coming season begins.

According to The Athletic's Scott Powers, neither player has approached Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson about a trade. Davidson also hasn't asked them to waive their NMCs.

Powers reports Kane and Toews will be allowed to determine their fates. He indicates that it's expected the duo will see how this season unfolds before reaching a decision about their respective futures.

Cap Friendly shows both players each carry a whopping $10.5-million average annual value on their contracts. Their actual salaries are $6.9 million each for 2022-23 but $4 million of that has already been paid out in signing bonuses.

Despite those low base salaries, the Blackhawks would still have to retain perhaps up to half of their respective annual cap hits to facilitate a trade. With most teams having invested most of their cap space earlier this summer via trades or free agency, Powers believes the earliest Kane and/or Toews could be moved is the 2023 trade deadline.

The Blackhawks would likely be more willing to retain salary by that point in the season. That's provided one or both players are willing to be shopped by the trade deadline.

For now, don't expect to see Kane or Toews skating with a different club when the coming season begins.