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New York Rangers: To Kane or not to Kane, that is the question

By Steve Paulus

MONTREAL, QC - MARCH 14: Patrick Kane #88 of the Chicago Blackhawks celebrates his first period goal with teammate Artemi Panarin #72 during the NHL game against the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre on March 14, 2017 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
MONTREAL, QC - MARCH 14: Patrick Kane #88 of the Chicago Blackhawks celebrates his first period goal with teammate Artemi Panarin #72 during the NHL game against the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre on March 14, 2017 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) /
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PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – DECEMBER 17: Jaroslav Halak #41 of the New York Rangers makes a save during the second period at Wells Fargo Center on December 17, 2022, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – DECEMBER 17: Jaroslav Halak #41 of the New York Rangers makes a save during the second period at Wells Fargo Center on December 17, 2022, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images) /

Complicating factors

The trade deadline is 3 pm on Friday, March 3.  The Rangers have 29 games to play before the deadline and where they are in the standings when it gets close will help determine whether they are buyers.  There is also nothing to prevent the Rangers from pursuing a deal before the deadline and are free to do so after the holiday trade hiatus.

The salary cap is a huge issue and Chicago retaining half of the salary would be necessary, but it’s possible the Rangers would need a third team to be part of a deal to further reduce the cap hit.  That would mean they would have to give even more up to get him.  But what would the impact be?

The fact is that a revitalized Patrick Kane playing on the right side of Mika Zibanejad and Artemi Panarin could make that line one of the most formidable in the NHL.  Panarin is having a fine season and while it’s hard to imagine him playing that much better, with Kane, look out.

An already potent Rangers power play would be even better.  Having Kane would allow Goodrow or Kravtsov to play on the third line with Chris Kreider and Vincent Trocheck.  A fourth line of, take your pick, Jimmy Vesey, Sammy Blais,  Julien Gauthier, Jonny Brodzinski, Kravtsov or Goodrow would be pretty darned good.

It wouldn’t solve the Rangers’ blue line issues and would complicate the cap situation in 2023-24. But it could be playoff magic.

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