Chicago Blackhawks brace for ‘a strange feeling’ at the United Center for their 1st home game without Patrick Kane

Patrick Kane’s former Chicago Blackhawks teammates — the ones left — have had a few days on the road to cope with his absence after his Tuesday trade to the New York Rangers.

But there could be a different sense of emptiness when the puck drops Thursday at the United Center about an hour and a half after Kane makes his Rangers debut at Madison Square Garden.

“He’s going to be making a (playoff) run with New York, so we wish him luck and all that, but it’s definitely going to be a strange feeling in the UC without him,” Hawks forward Tyler Johnson said.

Max Domi, Kane’s most consistent linemate with the Hawks, agreed: “It’s going to be a weird one.

“A guy like that that’s been the face of the franchise for as long as he has — three Stanley Cups. He’s the first you really think of when you see this jersey — him and Tazer (Jonathan Toews) together are a pretty iconic duo. …

“We have some of the best fans in the league here (and) I’m sure they’ll miss him. Rightfully so.”

Domi likely will miss Kane as much as anybody on the Hawks. He grew up admiring Kane and followed his path through the Ontario Hockey League’s London Knights.

“As a kid everyone dreams of winning the Stanley Cup, and certainly that was at the top of my list,” Domi said. “But the other thing is getting a chance to play against your idols, let alone on the same team, and certainly let alone on the same line.

“That was a dream come true for me, to play with your favorite player growing up. I was fortunate. Learned a lot. I think that’s something you can’t really put into words, what you gain from experiences like that because you can grow as a player just watching him in practice.

“Forget about putting the puck in the back of the net in a game and all that stuff; that’s just cookies and brownie points. The real meat and potatoes is what you learn from day to day — watching him in the gym, watching him getting ready before a game and before practice (and) just how he handles himself.

“That’s something I could never have scripted for sure, but that’s something I’ll remember for the rest of my life, for sure, and wish him the best.”

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Domi said he had “pretty private” conversations with Kane leading up to the trade deadline as the three-time Stanley Cup winner weighed whether to waive his no-movement clause and allow the Hawks ship him from the only NHL home he ever has known.

“I think any human being would feel the same way, but the way he handled himself was great,” Domi said.

Kane ultimately greenlighted the move Saturday while the Hawks were in San Jose, Calif., and the Hawks worked out a three-way package with New York and the Arizona Coyotes. In part, the Hawks received a second-round pick in this year’s draft — which can be upgraded to a first-rounder in 2024 or ‘25 if the Rangers reach the conference finals — and a 2025 fourth-round pick.

Initially, the trade was in holding pattern while the Rangers accrued more cap space and negotiated other details.

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The deal was finalized so quickly that coach Luke Richardson said he didn’t have time for a face-to-face goodbye with Kane.

“When it happened I just sent him a quick text that we’re cheering him on and we’ll be watching and thanked him for all the help he gave myself personally but also the team this year and over the course of the years, but I’ve only been here this year,” Richardson said. “He was great. He texted back right away, thanks for everything and he’s looking forward to the challenge.”

Johnson extended Kane well wishes too — and a warning.

“I can’t wait to see what they do in the playoffs,” Johnson said of the Rangers. “The East is going to be a tough one, so wish him the best of luck and I’m sure I’ll be seeing some highlights of his and I’ll be telling him, ‘Nice goal.’ ”

The former back-to-back champion with the Tampa Bay Lightning who also lost to Kane and the Hawks in the 2015 Stanley Cup Final would know. The current Hawks are a far cry now from sniffing the playoffs, let alone Cup glory.

Also gone are Jake McCabe, Sam Lafferty and Jack Johnson, all traded to contenders. And there’s still time left before the 2 p.m. Friday trade deadline, though not much left to pick over.

“Man, it’s a cloud if you make it a cloud and we didn’t make it a cloud at all,” Domi said. “Again, it was a decision that was out of all of our hands. Luckily it was in Pat’s hands. … At no point has that been a distraction to us at all this year.”

Johnson had a different take on the deadline’s emotional toll on a locker room.

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“Anyone that says it’s not weird is lying to you,” he said. “Everyone’s thinking about everything right now. It’s one of those times that I feel like you go through every single year, obviously. You’re on a buyer team or seller team, and I think everyone has to deal with it. …

“But really, you can’t look at all the noise, you’ve just got to let it go. You never really know what’s happening.”

It will be up to Domi, Johnson and other veterans — provided they aren’t traded — to huddle with a new group that includes Andreas Englund, Joey Anderson and Lukas Reichel, who was recalled Thursday.

Richardson has had to juggle lineups before, for various reasons, “but this is a big one, losing Kaner and McCabe and Lafferty and Jack.

“That’s a big-meat part of our lineup all year, so replacing that isn’t just putting one player in for each guy. We have to do it by committee here, be solid with a game plan and follow the game plan and not go off course.”

With the new Hawks, Johnson said: “You kind of have to relearn everything. You have to get that chemistry back.

“It’s pretty difficult at this time of the year, especially with limited practice time, how many games (left and the) travel (schedule). It’s been pretty ridiculous, to be honest with you.”