Chicago Blackhawks star winger Patrick Kane was stuck on a rebuilding team in the final year of his contract.
Now, he’ll get a chance to play for a fourth Stanley Cup title after the Rangers and Blackhawks agreed to a trade on Tuesday.
The Blackhawks get back a 2023 conditional second-round pick and a 2025 fourth-round pick for the pending unrestricted free agent, who waived his no-movement clause. The second-round pick can become a first (in either 2024 or 2025) if the Rangers reach the conference final, reports say.
Chicago will retain 50% of Kane’s $10.5 million contract, and the Arizona Coyotes will take on 50% of the remaining portion, making it a palatable $2.625 million for New York’s cap situation.
TRADE DEADLINE TRACKER: Analyzing Patrick Kane deal, other moves made before March 3
CONNOR BEDARD WATCH: Who has best chance to land generational talent?
The Rangers were thought to be out of the Kane sweepstakes because of their earlier trade for Vladimir Tarasenko. Now, Kane will get to reunite with former Blackhawks linemate Artemi Panarin.
The Rangers cleared cap space by trading Vitali Kravtsov to the Vancouver Canucks, sending Jake Leschyshyn to the American Hockey League and making a handful of other small roster adjustments Tuesday. After those moves, the Blackhawks made Kane a healthy scratch and sent him home.
With Kane and Tarasenko, the Rangers have added players who have scored 30 or more goals in a season a combined 11 times.
Kane was drafted No. 1 overall by the Blackhawks in 2007 and won Stanley Cups in 2010, 2013 and 2015. Captain Jonathan Toews is the lone remaining Chicago player from that run, though he’s out long-term with an illness.
Kane has averaged 1.06 points per game during his career, won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP in 2013 and won the league scoring title and Hart Trophy in 2015-16. He has been named to the All-Star Game nine times.
The Blackhawks parted ways with Alex DeBrincat, Kirby Dach, Dylan Strome and Dominik Kubalik in the offseason in a rebuilding movement that puts them in the draft lottery mix for generational talent Connor Bedard.
Kane’s numbers are down as a result, but he scored seven goals in his last four games before the trade. He has 16 goals and 45 points in 54 games this season.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Patrick Kane trade: Rangers acquire star in deal with Blackhawks
