Rangers Successfully Acquire Patrick Kane from Blackhawks

After what felt like an eternity, the Chicago Blackhawks and New York Rangers agreed to a deal on Tuesday night that saw star winger Patrick Kane move to the Big Apple.

The BlackHawks received two draft picks in exchange - a conditional 2023 second-round selection and a 2025 fourth-rounder. If the Rangers make it to the Eastern Conference finals, the 2023 second-round pick would ascend to a first-round choice by 2024 or 2025. On top of that, Chicago also received minor league defenseman Andy Welinski.

In exchange, New York acquired the services of Kane, as well as minor league defenseman Cooper Zech.

At five o'clock Eastern Time, the New York Rangers had finally acquired enough cap space to accommodate Patrick Kane's contract. Chicago will be holding onto fifty percent of Kane's $10.5 million deal, and the Arizona Coyotes will take on the other half, meaning the Rangers' cap will be charged only $2.625 million for the player.

During a remote press conference, GM Chris Drury pointed out that they had to consider the cap limits when looking into this move. But he also noted that this was an incredible opportunity, and they had to seize it.

Arizona also procured a third-round pick from the Rangers in 2025 as recompense for their role in the deal. To finalize it, Chicago got Finnish defenseman Vili Saarijarvi from the Coyotes.

In a statement released by the Blackhawks, Patrick Kane expressed his gratitude for the city of Chicago, the organization, his teammates, and the fans for the support showed to him and his family throughout the past 16 years. He believes that his decision to move on will put him in the best position to win another Stanley Cup. Although it is a bittersweet feeling to leave a place he loves, Kane affirmed that he will always hold the memories of Chicago close. He thanked the Blackhawks for doing all they could to place him in a great situation.

Kane, the 2007 No. 1 pick of the Blackhawks and three-time Stanley Cup champion, will make his debut with the Rangers in New York on Thursday against the Senators. Kane, in the final year of an eight-year no-movement clause contract, has expressed that the move to the Rangers is a good fit for both parties and the Rangers are excited to have him. On Wednesday, the Rangers will also face off against the Flyers in Philadelphia.



Emotionally, Patrick Kane was upset to be leaving the Chicago Blackhawks after spending over a decade with the team. The trade marks the official start of a new era for the Blackhawks, who are rebuilding under a new management team and coaching staff.

Prior to the trade, the New York Rangers had been looking to add a high-end winger. They opted for former St. Louis Blues player Vladimir Tarasenko instead of Kane.

“It's not, like, the happiest I've been to hear about a trade,” Kane said on the matter.

Multiple teams had their eyes on acquiring Evander Kane prior to him going to the New York Rangers, sources say, with the Carolina Hurricanes, Dallas Stars and Edmonton Oilers all showing interest. However, it was Kane himself who desired to go to the Rangers and pushed for it in the background.

Jeff Drury, the Rangers' general manager, commented that the deal came together in the last few days due to their sense that they had a genuine chance of getting Kane.

Kane's hip injury has been a notable issue as it prevented the Rangers from going forward with the deal at first, according to sources. Kane himself had downplayed the injury, before having a powerful run -- bagging seven goals and 10 points in his last four games. This performance concluded in him leaving the Blackhawks' West Coast trip to return to Chicago in order to make the deal with the Rangers possible.

In the midst of a rebuild, the Chicago Blackhawks have traded Patrick Kane to the New York Rangers. Kane, a 15-year veteran and native of Buffalo, New York, has scored over 20 goals in 14 of his NHL seasons and collected 26 goals and 92 points last year. His new team will reunite him with Artemi Panarin, his linemate for two seasons in Chicago that included Panarin's 2015-16 Calder Trophy-winning rookie campaign. Blackhawks CEO Danny Wirtz wrote to the team's employees, calling the move "another step in the process" to build their next winner.

"Patrick has earned a chance to strive for another Stanley Cup," said Wirtz.
Concerning the team's renovation, Wirtz stated that they would "ceaselessly push forward to reach our aims."
"Making these decisions is never easy," he added. "I applaud Kyle and the whole staff for their management during this difficult deadline."