Rangers to acquire Patrick Kane from Blackhawks

Per ESPN’s Emily Kaplan, the 2023 second-round pick becomes a first-round pick in 2024 or 2025 if the Rangers reach the Eastern Conference Final. Kaplan also reports the Arizona Coyotes are expected to facilitate the trade as the third team.

The 34-year-old is in the final year of an eight-year contract with a $10.5 million AAV. Kane had to waive his no-movement clause to approve the trade.

Kane will go down as one of the best players in Blackhawks history. He scored the game-winning goal to win the 2010 Stanley Cup on a play that confused just about everyone. Kane won the Conn Smythe in 2013 after winning a second Cup before winning Lord Stanley’s mug again in 2015.

In 2016, Kane led the league with 106 points and won both the Hart Trophy and the Ted Lindsay Award as the league’s best player. Kane was named to the NHL First-Team All-Star lineup three times and the second team once. Drafted first overall in 2007, he won the Calder Trophy as the top rookie in 2007-08 after a 72-point season.

Kane recorded at least 55 points in all 15 seasons he spent with the Hawks, but came short this year during one of the worst seasons of his career. He broke the 100-point barrier in 2016 and 2019 and had at least 80 points four other times. Kane leaves the Hawks with 1,225 points, good for second all-time behind Stan Mikita.

Among other career marks, Kane won silver at the 2010 Olympics with the United States, led the star-studded 2012 Spengler Cup in scoring and was the World Championship MVP with 20 points in 2018.

The Rangers already made a big splash ahead of the deadline, acquiring Vladimir Tarasenko from the St. Louis Blues on Feb. 9. New York currently sits third in the Metropolitan Division with 77 points, and adding Kane to the fold should help in what is turning out to be a wild arms race in the Eastern Conference.