Do the Rangers Need Patrick Kane to Win a Cup? Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MTk0MTE1MjQwNzA5ODU4OTkz/usatsi_19483780.jpg] This season could be Patrick Kane's last with the Chicago Blackhawks. Slated to become an unrestricted free agent next summer, there's ongoing speculation over whether the 34-year-old winger will waive his no-movement clause to join a playoff contender before the March 3 trade deadline. Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravalli [https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/trade-targets-let-the-bidding-begin-for-vancouver-canucks-bo-horvat/] has Kane at No. 2 on his recent listing of this season's top trade targets. He believes Blackhawks management will meet with their longtime superstar in December to gauge his interest in a trade. Seravalli also cited Kane saying during the off-season that if he did accept a trade, it would be closer to the March deadline. The Athletic's Mark Lazerus [https://theathletic.com/3942805/2022/11/27/patrick-kane-blackhawks-future-trade/] believes Kane would prefer staying with the Blackhawks but now considers a trade to be inevitable. He thinks the club's ongoing rebuild and their on-ice struggles are wearing Kane down and affecting his production. Kane waiving his no-movement clause would remove one hurdle, but a trade would still be difficult to pull off. His list of acceptable destinations could be limited to Stanley Cup contenders, which might total at most a half-dozen clubs. Given Kane's hefty $10.5-million cap hit, the Blackhawks might have to retain up to half of his remaining salary to facilitate a trade. It could also mean getting a third team involved in the deal to spread those dollars around. The Blackhawks' asking price will be another potential sticking point. Seravalli [https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/ice-breakers-trade-looming-for-florida-panthers-as-anthony-duclair-gets-closer-to-returning/] believes they'll want something comparable to what the Philadelphia Flyers received last year for sending Claude Giroux to the Florida Panthers. The Flyers got a young forward in Owen Tippett, a conditional first-round pick in 2024 or 2025 [https://www.capfriendly.com/draft/2024?pick=13], and a 2023 third-rounder.
