Patrick Kane is making his New York Rangers debut Thursday against the Ottawa Senators, and he’ll have a familiar face on his opposite wing.
Head coach Gerard Gallant confirmed to reporters Wednesday that Kane wouldn’t suit up against the Philadelphia Flyers, but will be on the right wing Thursday alongside centre Vincent Trochek and winger Artemi Panarin, his former Chicago Blackhawks teammate.
Kane, who ended a 16-year run in Chicago with the trade to New York on Tuesday, enjoyed some of his most productive seasons playing with Panarin.
In 2015-16, the then-26-year-old Kane registered 46 goals and 60 assists en route to an Art Ross Trophy, Hart Trophy and Ted Lindsay Award. Panarin, meanwhile, had 30 goals and 47 assists in his first NHL season as a 23-year-old and won the Calder Trophy.
The Blackhawks traded Panarin to the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2017 for Brandon Saad. But now, six years later, the Breadman and Kane are back together in the Big Apple.
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.
The acquisition of Kane, 34, gives the Rangers a daunting forward corps: in addition to the newly acquired Vladimir Tarasenko, they also have potent scorers in Panarin, Chris Kreider, Mika Zibanejad, 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.