Patrick Kane trade rumors: Five potential destinations for the Blackhawks star at the 2023 deadline

With the 2023 NHL trade deadline approaching, all eyes in the Windy City are on Patrick Kane’s status.

The three-time Stanley Cup champion is one of the biggest names to change sweaters after March 3. Kane will be an unrestricted free agent this summer, and the Blackhawks aren’t snooping on the postseason. Making a trade makes sense for both Kane and the organization.

The biggest question is will it happen. Kane has a full no-trade clause, and GM Kyle Davidson has made it clear since the summer that Kane must deliver the verdict. The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun reported that Kane’s agent Pat Brisson told him Kane would make his decision sometime this week.

The 34-year-old winger is not the player he was when he won the Hart and Art Ross Trophy. Kane is in the middle of a declining year with 41 points in 52 games.

However, he is still one of the best playmakers in the league and can help any challenger who makes a move for him.

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With a trade potentially coming up at some point, here are five potential targets for Kane.

Five potential landing spots for Patrick Kane

Vegas Golden Knights

The Golden Knights have a long history of dealing with the big names, and as of writing there is none more conspicuous than Showtime.

The good news is that Vegas has over $8.5 million in cap space, largely due to Mark Stone being placed on long-term injury reserve following his back surgery. The bad news is that they’re going to be without Stone and replacing his production for the rest of the regular season.

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While Kane can’t make up for Stone’s defensive play, he’s a right winger who can play top-line minutes. The Golden Knights have depth in the middle but are weaker on the wings, especially without a stone.

GM Kelly McCrimmon hasn’t shied away from trading first-round picks and top prospects before. Besides, what player wouldn’t love to rock out in Las Vegas for a few months while playing against a competitor?

Dallas Stars

Dallas is a dominant defensive team but the club needs help scoring goals. The team may be first in the Western Conference, but it’s quite open and the Stars are 15th in goals per game this year. Someone like Kane would be a great addition to the stars.

The Stars have needed a second-line winger all season. Head coach Peter DeBoer tried a number of players for the position, including Denis Gurianov, Ty Dellandrea and most recently Tyler Seguin, but none were fit.

Kane might be if he’s interested in Dallas. On paper, the road to the conference final is easier in the West than in the East. So if Kane just wants to win, Dallas fits that pattern.

It doesn’t help that the Stars don’t have a first-round pick this year and GM Jim Nill may hesitate to submit his 2024 pick as well. But if the Stars can negotiate a deal with the Blackhawks to bring Kane to the Lone Star State, their chances of getting out of the Western Conference would improve significantly.

New York Rangers

When Rangers traded for Vladimir Tarasenko, people thought it would eliminate them from the Kane Sweepstakes. Even Kane himself said so he wasn’t particularly happy with the news as he saw New York as an intriguing option.

However, the Rangers are reportedly staying in the game as trading partners, but the Blackhawks will have to shed their cap to do so.

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The simple answer is to forego Vitali Kravtsov, who has already requested a trade from New York. That would lose $2 million in cap space, proving a little more room for New York. Chicago would still have to keep a portion of Kane’s salary or a third party would have to be brought into the deal to pick up money.

The addition of Kane would add an experienced playmaker to a Rangers top-six group that already includes Mika Zibanejad, Chris Kreider, Vincent Trocheck, Tarasenko and Artemi Panarin, with whom Kane played successfully in Chicago.

There would be very few clubs out there that could say they have better ranks in the front two strikers if this happened.

Carolina hurricanes

It feels like the Hurricanes need one more piece on offense. The thought was that Max Pacioretty would be the reinforcement needed after missing the first half of the season with a torn Achilles tendon, but he immediately injured the tendon again after five games and won’t be back this year.

Kane isn’t the wing to shoot first like Pacioretty is, but he would still be a great addition and one the Hurricanes have been asking for. Carolina has one of the deepest forward groups in the league, and someone like Kane could take the team to the top.

The question is, would Kane waive his no-trade clause for Carolina? In terms of their market, they cannot compete with New York or Vegas. A move to Raleigh would certainly be a step backwards from Chicago, but the Hurricanes are the second-best team in the league.

The lure of another trophy could be enough for Kane to agree to a Hurricane trade.

Edmonton oiler

Last year, midseason, the Oilers brought in Evander Kane, who was a perfect fit as he helped the team make their way to the Western Conference Finals. Could GM Ken Holland bring in another Kane to assist this year?

The cap is a problem. If Holland Jesse Puljujarvi can act, which is imminent, that could clear some contention. But the Blackhawks would need to retain some of Kane’s cap hit for a deal to be negotiated.

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And don’t get me wrong — Edmonton’s main focus as of the reporting date is addressing the blue line. The Oilers’ biggest weakness is their defense and they need to add someone. Only the Kings rank lower in goals allowed per game among playoff contenders in the conference.

That would add one of the league’s best passers to a forward group that already leads the league in goals per game. The offense is spooky enough with Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Zach Hyman, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Evander Kane.

Add the Blackhawks’ Kane to the mix and it’s a nightmare for the opposition.