ESPN’s Emily Kaplan reported today on The Drop that unrestricted free agent forward Patrick Kane reportedly would like to make another run with the New York Rangers but at this point Rangers general manager Chris Drury has been apprehensive due to the team’s lack of cap space as well as the chemistry they’ve build under head coach Peter Laviolette.
Kane was unhappy with last season and his inability to be healthy due to his hip injury. According to Kaplan, Kane felt like he played most of the season on one leg and never had a chance to be an impact player.
Kaplan didn’t rule out the possibility of Kane returning to the Rangers but said that if he were to return it would be similar to last season when Kane essentially forced a trade to the Rangers. Obviously, this wouldn’t be a trade, but if Kane was willing to take a low salary, he could force the Rangers hand as the upside of signing the three-time cup winner might be too much for the Rangers to ignore.
In other Metropolitan notes:
- New Jersey Devils reporter Amanda Stein tweeted that center Nico Hischier will travel with the club but will not dress in tomorrow night’s game against the Detroit Red Wings. The 24-year-old returned to practice yesterday signalling that his return could come soon as he battles his way back from an upper-body injury he suffered on October 27th in a game against the Buffalo Sabres. The Devils have struggled with Hischier out of the lineup, going 4-5 in his absence. The 2017 first-overall pick struggled to start the year with just two goals in seven games but had a career year last year with 80 points in 81 games.
- Jordan Hall of NBC Sports Philadelphia is reporting that Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen was in a regular jersey at practice today, indicating that he can take contact. Ristolainen’s return to a regular practice jersey signals that he is close to making his season debut for the Flyers as he has been on the shelf since suffering an undisclosed injury during training camp. When he is healthy enough to play, the Flyers will need to activate him off LTIR and make room available on their active roster which will likely mean a demotion for a player such as Louis Belpedio.
The ball isn’t exactly in Kane’s court, I am looking forward however to see which poor decision making GM rolls the dice on a 35 year old damaged goods winger who’s best day’s are way gone.
Kane can’t “force” a damn thing until he demonstrates he can play. Were I an interested general manager, I’d insist he sign a PTO with my AHL affiliate for a week’s worth of game action to prove that the surgery was successful. Otherwise, let some other sucker take the bet.
While I thought after last year that the better reunion would have been with Tarasenko, and I admittedly not the biggest Kane fan, if he is willing to play for the league minimum, I’d happily take him every day over an obviously done Blake Wheeler.
At least wheeler can play defense and forechecks
Nicklas Backstom’s situation in Washington should be a warning to any team interested in Kane. Backstrom had the same surgery & he hasn’t been anywhere near the same player he was. Backstrom is likely going to retire. Kane isn’t likely to be anywhere near the great player he has been in his career
Backstrom has basically soft retired, he’ll likely remain on LTIR until his contract ends next year. Kane is donzo, whether someone signs him or not.
If people believe that Trumpo is a good president imagine what they’ll think of kane.