The Chicago Blackhawks have traded Patrick Kane, one of the greatest players in franchise history, Tuesday to the New York Rangers in a three-team deal.
In exchange, the Blackhawks received AHL defenceman Andy Welinski, a conditional 2023 second-round pick and a 2025 fourth-round pick. The Arizona Coyotes received a third-round pick in 2025 from the Rangers for brokering the deal.
The Rangers will also receive AHL defenceman Cooper Zech. The Coyotes have sent defenceman Vili Saarijarvi to Chicago in the trade as well.
The second-round pick becomes a 2024 or 2025 first-round pick if the Rangers advance to the Eastern Conference Final.
The long-anticipated trade ends a 16-year run for Kane in Chicago that included three Stanley Cups and plenty of other accolades. Kane leaves the Blackhawks second on the franchise’s all-time scoring list and third in all-time games played.
Kane, a Buffalo native, is expected to make his debut in Rangers colours on Thursday at home against the Ottawa Senators.
“I think Patrick recognized it was a good fit for him and it’s a good fit for us," Rangers president and general manager Chris Drury said in a statement. "We’re certainly excited that he wanted to be traded and that it was to the New York Rangers."
Although he’s bumped his stats up lately, Kane’s offensive numbers have dipped this season, with just 16 goals and 29 assists for 45 points in 54 games. But he’s one year removed from a 92-point season and has broken the 80-point plateau six times in his career.
"There are simply no words to express my family's love and appreciation for the Blackhawks organization, my teammates, this city and the greatest fans in the world for welcoming me here since being drafted in 2007," Kane said in a statement. "Thank you for giving me a chance and supporting me like your own through 1,297 games played in the most iconic sweater, including three Stanley Cups and thousands of memories to last a lifetime."
Kane’s future in Chicago had been in doubt of late as he entered the final year of his contract just as general manager Kyle Davidson began tearing down the roster. Kane had to waive a no-movement clause to approve this trade, and carries an overall $10.5-million cap hit this season that is now shared by the Blackhawks (50 per cent), Coyotes (25 per cent) and Rangers (25 per cent).
"The contributions Patrick Kane has made to the Blackhawks organization and the city of Chicago will never be forgotten," CEO Danny Wirtz said in a statement. "While today marks the end of the era for the team, he will forever be a part of the Blackhawks family."
The deal had long been expected, although it did seem unlikely after the Rangers obtained scoring winger and Stanley Cup champion Vladimir Tarasenko from the St. Louis Blues earlier in February.
The acquisition of Kane, 34, gives the Rangers a daunting forward corps: in addition to Tarasenko, they also have potent scorers in former Kane linemate Artemi Panarin, Chris Kreider, Mika Zibanejad, Vincent Trochek and Filip Chytil. This, along with a perennial Norris Trophy candidate in Adam Fox and a formidable goaltender in Igor Shesterkin make the Rangers a strong contender heading into the playoffs.
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