Why the new Patrick Kane news should dissuade the Rangers

NEW YORK, NY – JANUARY 03: Patrick Kane #88 of the Chicago Blackhawks takes the first-period shot against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on January 3, 2018, in New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

Patrick Kane has been one of the best players in the NHL for the bulk of his career. Now that Chicago is entering a rebuild, the kid from upstate New York was supposed to come back home to the big city and help the best team in the league reach the holy grail of the hockey world. It is a Disney movie that writes itself. However, life is never simple and the recent news regarding the Buffalo native should put the Rangers off wanting him.

According to Elliotte Freidman and Jeff Marek on Sportsnet’s 32 Thoughts, Patrick Kane has a nagging issue. Something that the pair believe will need “cleaning up” meaning some form of surgery or operation. While that itself is not a major issue when talking about the American’s great success, the price you’d have to pay for Patrick Kane is not going to be friendly and now you are not getting him at 100%.

This isn’t to skip over the fact that Kane makes $10.5 million against the cap this year. That’s not a typo. $10,500,000 against the cap. New York could make Kane fit if he was 50% retained at the trade deadline as they are currently on pace to accrue north of $7,103,947 of deadline cap space ahead of March 3rd. This means that the Rangers could in theory take on Kane if he had a cap hit of $5.25 million.

Whether you believe that the Rangers should be looking to go after players like Kane to help the team in the postseason or not, injured players are not worth paying large prices. With Kane’s injury news, it should put not just the Rangers but a lot of teams off trying to acquire the 2007 1st overall pick. While Kane may be the best American player of all time, it is difficult to justify that price.

There will be other options available at the deadline should the Rangers want to go down the route of filling the roster out before the postseason. There will be a lot of teams selling at this deadline hoping to land the first overall pick meaning there will be a lot of talent available for teams that want to push for the cup this year.

Question for Blue Line Station readers: Should the New York Rangers be looking at Patrick Kane at the trade deadline?

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