It seems it’s no longer an “if,” but instead a “when and where” that the Chicago Blackhawks trade franchise-great Patrick Kane. With Chicago escalating its rebuilding efforts this offseason, lead by the trade of Alex DeBrincat to the Ottawa Senators, it seemed Kane was as good as gone this summer too. However, the veteran has a full no-movement clause in his contract and appears keen on taking a wait-and-see approach this season with where he would want to be dealt. Still, given the tight squeeze on the salary cap for many teams, the forward’s impending free agency, and the fact that he’s still playing near the top of his game, finding a match on his shortlist of teams could prove to be a challenge nonetheless. One team that could be a fit is the Boston Bruins, but those challenges mentioned above pose as much of an issue to them as anyone else. The Boston Globe’s Kevin Paul Dupont acknowledges those challenges, but looks to find a path to a deal between the two Original Six squads.
Given Kane’s $10.5MM cap hit, of which the Blackhawks can retain 50% in a trade, and Boston being $1.44MM over the salary cap ceiling, Chicago would certainly have to take some salary back from Boston. This might not be an issue, Dupont says, as the team could realistically craft a package around one or both of forward Jake DeBrusk and defenseman Brandon Carlo, who carry cap hits of $4MM and $4.1MM respectively. These two aren’t the sort of young prospects or premier draft picks Chicago would hope to acquire, but could represent a collection of young talent that would help get things moving forward more quickly for the Blackhawks. Dupont also points to youngsters Jakub Zboril or Jack Studnicka as an additional sweetener if needed, but does raise concern if a first-round draft pick was needed on top of this package.
- It’s once again that time of year where we’ll see at least a dozen players, if not more, hit the waiver wire each day, with some very intriguing names as part of that. Today’s crop of waiver-wire finds includes a pair of former top Avalanche prospects in Martin Kaut and Shane Bowers, who may still have room to grow, an intriguing defenseman in Mark Friedman, as well as another young 2017 first round pick like Bowers in that of Calgary Flames defenseman Juuso Valimaki. Considering the amount of players on waivers and teams needing to trim their rosters, many players that would be claimed any other time of the year, are able to be snuck through. However, Hailey Salvian of The Athletic believes Valimaki might not be able to sneak through so easily. Losing someone like Valimaki, who still has some upside, for nothing wouldn’t be ideal for Calgary, but for Valimaki, Salvian points out, it could be a fresh start, perhaps with an opportunity to once again establish himself as an everyday NHLer.
- The Hershey Bears, the AHL affiliate of the Washington Capitals, have signed defenseman Martin Has to a one-year AHL deal, the team announced. That news alone doesn’t seem to make it much different from any other AHL signing, however it does carry with it the caveat that Has is a Capitals draft pick who has not signed an ELC, but is still eligible for one. Has was a fifth-round selection of the Capitals back in 2019, but has seen limited game action prior to last season. The 21-year-old defenseman did put together a solid year in 2021-22 though, getting into 57 games as a member of the Shawinigan Cataractes in the QMJHL, recording 20 points. The Capitals have one year remaining in order to decide whether or not they would like to offer Has his ELC, otherwise he will become a free agent next summer.
Trading Carlo & DeBrusk for a few months of Kane makes little sense for the Bruins. The Bruins need to be looking to add a top center, not another winger. Also, the Bruins are very thin when it comes to right shot defensemen. Trading Carlo would further deplete that area.
I’d trade DeBrusk for just 2 days w/ Kane but I’m not giving up Carlo for a few months rental
At this point I would give DeBrusk up for cap space nothing else the kid quit on this franchise because the coach was mean to him
There are underlying reasons for a move like this. DeBrusk and Carlo would free up long-term cap space. Mast and Lohrei are looking like Carlo clones at each side. If the Bruins sign Stralman, Carlo is expendable THIS year.
Personally, I wouldn’t do it unless the Bruins did not have to give up Lysell or draft picks, but there’s no way the B’s have the assets to beat a competitor’s offer. Only way it happens is if Kane wants to be a Bruin the same way the AB’s got Hall from BUF.
Best case, it’s DeBrusk, Carlo, Lauko, Duran and CHI retains salary but that’s honestly a crap offer and only happens if Kane makes it happen.
Marchy-Bergy-Kane
Hall-Krejci-Pasta
Zacha-Coyle-Smith
Greer-Studnicka-Wagner
Nosek/Foligno
Lindholm-McAvoy
Grzelcyk-Stralman
Reilly-Clifton
Forbort
Honestly just a long-winded way of saying, not happening/wishful thinking.
I doubt there’s a team in the league that wouldn’t mind having a guy “quit on the franchise” to the degree of potting 25 goals.
With that, c’mon. Kane signed long term wouldn’t be worth DeBrusk AND Carlo AND a prospect AND a first rounder … not at his age. Depth has, to put it charitably, not been a strength of the Bruins in recent seasons. Kane certainly isn’t worth that as a single season rental. He remains an elite player, but Boston’s right up there with Pittsburgh in having the market cornered on aging stars who are due to start declining.
And there’s this consideration: even if you dropped Patrick Kane on Boston without having to trade ANY player from the roster … is that a Cup-winning team? I don’t think it is, and that’s a lot of potential blowup for nothing better than to aspire to lose valiantly in the Conference Finals.
He’s going to the HurriKanes
Patrick Kane to the Rangers to be on a line with his friend. The bread man.
Kevin Dupont stopped being relevant years ago. It’s no-effort takes like this that demonstrate why.
NY media making it seem like Kane was already traded to NYR. . I don’t see it bc they can’t afford to sign him after this year. And I don’t see giving up the package it will take.
It not the NY Media. TSN ,Sportsnet, are calling it and others
If Kane only want to go to NYR, then the return for him will be less, as Chicago will take what they can get.
Kane at 1/2 salary and their 2nd for Krappo, Zack Jones, and a 1st
He’s going to the Canes. All the Canes would have to do to make the salary work is trade E. Bear and J. Martinook along with prospects and picks. Those two aren’t really going to play this year. Canes are stacked.
There’s quite a few teams that Kane could go to but the Bruins would be one of the last. I still say the Sabres or Rangers are the most likely, He’s from there.
It would depend on how committed they are to accelerate their rebuild, but the Kings have the prospects to provide an enticing package to the Hawks. Would Kane be prepared to change from the Windy City to the City of Angels?
Highly doubt it. Kane and Toews feel like Davidson robbed them of one last chance to win a Cup as unrealistic as that would of been. They’re not going to do the Hawks any favors and watch how fast they pout when the Hawks start out 1-5.