It’s clear that the veteran leadership in the Chicago Blackhawks dressing room is disappointed in the direction of the franchise the last few months, selling off young, core pieces for future assets. General manager Kyle Davidson has suggested it will be a five-plus year rebuild, something that doesn’t sound appealing to captain Jonathan Toews.
Unlike Toews, who has struggled in recent years to stay healthy and productive, Patrick Kane is still one of the most dynamic offensive players in the league and would likely draw a crowd if made available. While David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period tweets that the Blackhawks have engaged in trade discussions regarding Kane and lists the Dallas Stars as one of the teams with recent interest, Mark Lazerus of The Athletic has thrown cold water on any speculation. Lazerus has been informed by a source that there have been no trade talks so far, though admits that teams are likely “sniffing around” on the superstar forward.
Kane, of course, holds most of the power here, with a full no-movement clause that allows him to dictate who he can be traded to, and when. If he wanted to stay in Chicago for the final year of his current contract, there’s nothing that the Blackhawks could do about it. If he’s willing to move though, it represents another high-priced asset that could allow Davidson to add even more talent to the team down the road.
For many fans in Chicago though, trading Kane (or Toews) is more than just moving out an asset. The first-overall pick in 2007 has spent his entire career with the Blackhawks, winning three Stanley Cup championships, a Calder Trophy, the Hart, Pearson, and Art Ross all in the same year, and a Conn Smythe. He has 1,180 points in 1,107 games and would be a lock for the Hall of Fame even if he retired today.
At 33, he is still very much a dominant presence in the NHL and scored 92 points just this past season. That actually might be part of the reason why the Blackhawks would want to move him in the first place. In a season in which they appear to be tanking for the best odds in the 2023 draft, Kane’s presence could potentially elevate teammates to competitive status and help them win too many games.
So while Toews has been vocal with some of his frustration, Kane remains the player most fans are focused on this offseason. If he gives the okay, there will likely be an arms race to try and acquire him, especially if the Blackhawks are willing to retain half of his remaining contract (and why wouldn’t they, really). Kane carries a cap hit of $10.5MM but is due just $6.9MM this season, with $4MM of that to be paid in signing bonuses.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
Maple leafs !!!lol
A Kane for Tavares + a 1st?
Why on earth would Chicago take Tavares’ contract?
Why on earth would Tavares waive his NMC to go to a rebuilding Chicago team? I’d love Kane in Toronto, but unless Nylander is going the other way or he or Marner can play LW, isn’t really a spot for him in the top-6.
And I’ll go three for three: why on earth would Chicago *want* Tavares? If they’re really talking a five-year rebuild, then what could they possibly do with a guy who’s already in his thirties, carries a punishingly heavy contract, and has a bunch of folks questioning his desire and leadership as it is?
Beyond that, look. Trading Kane will piss off the fanbase, no error. That fanbase has already got to be mad over being told that after five years of pain, they’re going to have to put up with five MORE years of rebuilding. Trading their iconic superstar on the heels of trading their elite young stud winger for pocket change had better come with a heap of high draft picks, or the mob is going to come at Davidson with torches and hockey sticks.
Kane will agree to go to the Rags to play with the the Breadman again. The cost should be Filip Chytil because he is good & Zac Jones because the Hawks believe you can’t have enough Jones on the blue line.
hope Sabres aren’t going for him…
Buffalo not only has the best chance of getting him IMO, but also has the best chance of re-signing him after his contract ends. I don’t know the Sabres cap situation, but they surely have someone they move for draft picks to create cap room and soften the blow. Kane for 5 million and a great chance of signing him back? That’s surely worth it to have the greatest American born player finish up at home.
Sabres are just above the cap floor, that’s why they traded for Ben Bishop’s contract.
Kane to L.A.? Kings could move up another notch to cup contension and Blackhawks could get an A prospect and maybe a first round draft pick?
Kane (1/2 salary) to NYR for Kakko, Lindgren, and a 1st
Uh if the Hawks traded Dach who was a bust, why would they want Kakko who is also a bust? And a recently signed bust at that. Wow this is the dumbest one yet. No, second dumbest after the Tavares one.
Now that is funny! Thanks for posting.
I should have clarified that if Kane only accepts a trade to NYR to rejoin Panarin, this is what the return might be. A comparison would be the Giroux trade, where a player only waives his NTC for 1 team.
It’s absolutely vital that Davidson gets a return on Toews and Kane so I’m sure they will both be moved out by the trade deadline next February If not sooner.
He won’t get much return on Toews. He is over the hill.
If Toews gets moved it will be for nothing more than future considerations.
I’ve said it before. Kane isn’t going to a bottom feeding team. If he’s going to be on a team that sucks he’s going to finish out in Chicago. The only other team he would play for IMO would be Buffalo because he’s from there. I believe he still has a house there but I’m not sure. I know he did early on in his career. He’s not being traded for another bad contract, that would kind of defeat the purpose wouldn’t it? They’ve traded away the Cat and Hagel, but they’d take any guy like Tavares? C’mon get real. The only thing they’re looking for is draft picks plain and simple. They would take anything for Toews and he’s from around Calgary I believe so maybe he wants to go home also. Kane would demand some very high picks, especially if the Hawks are going to retain salary. So let’s get serious here.
Pretty sure Toews is from Winnipeg, I heard they also have a team there. Can’t confirm though.
They have a team but do they have a need? If you want Toews who at this point is a top notch penalty killer and faceoff guy for 5 million? Because that’s the most salary the Hawks can keep. I think Calgary might be a better fit right now for him but he’s not a scorer but is still a good defensive center who sets up guys pretty well still. Going to be hard sell for Davidson to move him. Davidson is taking the Ryan Poles approach to this and just eating all the bad from the Bowman era in one year to build back from scratch. Stay tuned.