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, Sportsnet can confirm.
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 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 Wednesday in Philadelphia against the Flyers.
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.
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, Coyotes and Rangers.
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.
