The New York Rangers on Tuesday acquired Patrick Kane in a trade with the Chicago Blackhawks, reuniting the star winger with former teammate Artemi Panarin and establishing himself as a Stanley Cup contender in the loaded Eastern Conference.
New York was thought to be out of the running for Kane after taking over from St. Louis’ Vladimir Tarasenko on February 9. Kane, 34, was also noncommittal when asked about leaving his only NHL home.
But Kane loved playing with Panarin for two seasons early in the Russian winger’s NHL career, and the three-time Stanley Cup champion was in control of his situation thanks to a no-movement clause in his contract.
“This has been an emotional time for me and my family, but I believe this decision puts me in the best position to win another Stanley Cup immediately,” Kane said in a press release. “It’s not about me leaving the Blackhawks, but this is an opportunity for me – the Blackhawks have done everything they can to put me in a great position and I will forever be grateful to them.”
After days of rumors and salary cap maneuvers, the Rangers sent a conditional 2023 second-round pick, a 2025 fourth-rounder and minor league defenseman Andy Welinski to the rebuilding Blackhawks for Kane and minor league defenseman Cooper Zech. Chicago also acquired Finnish defenseman Vili Saarijarvi from Arizona as part of the trade.
The Coyotes received a third-place finisher from the Rangers in 2025 to keep 25% of Kane’s salary while the Blackhawks keep 50%.
The conditional runner-up Chicago took from New York will become the first-place finisher in 2024 when Rangers advance to this year’s East Finals. If it stays with a second-round pick, the Blackhawks will have eight picks in the first three rounds of the upcoming draft.
“I knew from day one that I took this job that there were going to be some tough days, and today was one of the toughest,” said Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson.
Kane could make his Rangers debut Wednesday night in Philadelphia or Thursday night at home against Ottawa. He scored the biggest goal of his NHL career in Philly, an overtime winner in Game 6 of the 2010 Stanley Cup Finals, ending Chicago’s 49-year title drought.
He was in the middle of his best part of the season when he left the Blackhawks during their road trip amid trade talks. He has seven goals and three assists in a four-game scoring streak.
“I think Patrick realized it was a good fit for him and for us,” said New York GM Chris Drury. “We’re definitely pleased that he wanted to be traded and that it went to the New York Rangers.”
New York got Tarasenko and deep back Niko Mikkola in trades with St. Louis. Rangers finalized the deal at the time thinking the acquisition cost for Tarasenko would be less than what it would take to get Timo Meier and were wary of waiting for Kane to make a decision on his future.
But Drury only lost a first-round pick, a fourth-rounder and two players to St. Louis. After acquiring a first-round player from Dallas for young defenseman Nils Lundkvist last summer, the Rangers had enough draft capital to bring Kane in from Chicago.
Kane was the #1 pick by the Blackhawks in the 2007 draft. He is in the final season of an eight-year, $84 million contract extension that was completed in July 2014.
Kane helped Chicago put together the best track in franchise history, winning the Stanley Cup in 2010, 2013 and 2015. The Blackhawks also made the Western Conference Finals in 2014, losing to the Los Angeles Kings in an epic seven-game streak.
But the franchise has been hitting hard times lately. It’s one of the worst teams in the NHL this year in the mix for the #1 pick overall and a chance to take Connor Bedard.
“The contributions Patrick Kane made to the Blackhawks organization and the city of Chicago will never be forgotten,” said Blackhawks CEO Danny Wirtz. “While today marks the end of an era for the team, he will forever be a part of the Blackhawks family.”
Kane has long been one of the most talented wingers in the league. He has 16 goals and 29 assists in 54 games and his numbers have been marred by the lack of talent around him.
Kane also has a long track record in the playoffs. In addition to scoring the game-winning goal of the 2010 series against the Flyers, he won the 2013 Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP.
He has 14 seasons with at least 21 goals and 13 years with at least 40 assists. He won the 2016 Hart Trophy as the NHL MVP after a career-high 46 goals and 60 assists in 82 games.
As recently as last season, when Chicago had Alex DeBrincat and Dylan Strome, Kane had 26 goals and a career-high 66 assists in 78 games.
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