Chicago Blackhawks star Patrick Kane’s trade destinations narrow with NY Rangers’ acquisition of Vladimir Tarasenko

The New York Rangers landed their elite right winger before the trade deadline — and it wasn’t Patrick Kane.

The Rangers on Thursday acquired VlaBrissoimir Tarasenko from the St. Louis Blues, along with third-pairing defenseman Niko Mikkola. The Blues received winger Samuel Blais, defensive prospect Hunter Skinner, a 2023 conditional first-round pick and a 2024 conditional fourth-round pick.

The Blues retained $3.75 million of Tarasenko’s salary.

So Rangers winger Artemi Panarin will reunite with former Russian U20 and SKA St. Petersburg teammate Tarasenko and not with former Hawks linemate Kane, who helped put Panarin on the map with back-to-back 30-goal seasons (2015-16 and ‘16-17) to start his NHL career.

Coincidentally, Tarasenko was Hawks defenseman Seth Jones’ linemate during the NHL All-Star Game.

It’s partly because of Kane’s past relationship with Panarin that he and the Rangers have been tied together in trade rumors dating to last season.

Kane recently told reporters he and agent Pat Brisson discussed several suitors that Kane found “intriguing” but didn’t elaborate on which teams, but it’s no secret the Rangers have been in the market for a top-six winger and had an eye on Kane.

However, ESPN’s Emily Kaplan tweeted Thursday that the Rangers opted for Tarasenko “after feeling the asking prices for (San Jose’s) Timo Meier and Patrick Kane were too high.

“Also sounds like New York had some concerns over Kane’s hip injury.”

Kane was asked whether his lingering lower-body injury could scare some teams off.

“It’s not something I’m thinking about or worried about,” he said. “When I get on the ice, it’s not like you’re thinking about anything else except playing as well as you can. I guess it’s not really something for me to worry about. Just go about it (the) best I can.”

It’s been considered that Kane’s exit is a foregone conclusion, especially with Kane sounding more and more like he’s receptive to waiving his no-movement clause and agreeing to a trade.

He said about the remaining games at the United Center before the March 3 trade deadline that “I’ll probably cherish these … games a little bit more before the deadline, just not knowing what’s going to happen.”

But it seems as if a lot of boxes have to be checked before such a move would happen.

• Kane probably desires a long-term contract as part of the deal.

“I want to make the most of the back half of my career here and have fun playing hockey too,” He recently told the Tribune. “That’s a big thing is being able to go out there and showcase your skills and have fun, and if it’s playing here or playing in a great organization somewhere else, that’s what it is. I guess we’ll come to see how it all plays out.”

• The hip injury could be an issue for teams — especially if they have to commit to him for three or four seasons — though it hasn’t kept him off the ice much. He took a hard hit against the San Jose Sharks on Jan. 1 and aggravated the injury against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Jan. 3, then went on injured reserve for three games. Coach Luke Richardson said at the time that Kane thought a “bang on the lower body is going to inflame more,” so they opted to give him extra rest.
• After fetching first-round picks this year and next year from the Lightning for Brandon Hagel and getting a No. 7 pick as part of the package for Alex DeBrincat, it’s not a stretch to think Hawks general manager Kyle Davidson demands at least a late first-round pick for Kane. Kane, 34, is older than those players but he and Max Domi are tied for the team lead in points with 35.
• Kane probably has a shortlist of teams he would even consider, and those teams would have cap space to take on even half of Kane’s contract and have the draft capital to meet Davidson’s demands. The list has grown shorter with the Rangers’ trade for Tarasenko. The New York Islanders, another rumored Kane destination, acquired forward Bo Horvat from the Vancouver Canucks on Jan. 30, so they’re likely out of the Kane market too. Meier and Arizona Coyotes defenseman Jakob Chychrun are also top trade targets who could compete with Kane for draft picks.
• Some remaining candidates include the Colorado Avalanche, Carolina Hurricanes, Los Angeles Kings and Vegas Golden Knights. How many of them are on Kane’s wish list?
• Kane’s likely taking his time and holding out for the best possible situation for himself.

“We talked about it in the summer with Pat, just probably taking it up to the deadline and making a decision,” Kane said.

That’s understandable for Kane, but that timeline might present problems for contenders who are trying to cement their playoff rosters. In a game of trade-deadline musical chairs, no team wants to be the one left standing.

In an interview with the Tribune last month, Kane explained how he wasn’t dragging out the process but using the NHL All-Star break as a sort of milepost for hunkering down and assessing what he needs to do for his future.

“I think you worry about that leading up to the break,” Kane said. “After the break, you know, maybe those conversations start getting a little bit deeper and talking to your agent and talking to Kyle and whoever else.”