The Patrick Kane trade saga continues to steam on as the trade deadline is approaching. Kane still has yet to give Blackhawks management a firm decision on whether or not he would like to be traded ahead of the deadline, but a report from Pierre LeBrun has provided some clarity to the murky situation.
According to LeBrun, Kane and his agent Pat Brisson will come up with a top destination and let the Blackhawks management explore a trade directly with that team to gauge a potential return. This report provides a potential basis as to why this entire situation is taking so long to unfold. Kane and his agent appear to be trying to find the perfect fit if he decides to leave instead of giving the Blackhawks a list and letting them find the best deal on the market.
Since the NHL draft last year, everyone thought that Kane would end up in Rangers jersey and be reunited with former line mate Artemi Panarin. With Kane still mulling over his future, the Rangers decided to move on to Tarasenko.
It's unclear what team in playoff contention would be the best fit for Kane if he decides to explore the possibility of playing in another uniform. The Blackhawks would definelty need to retain half of Kane's contract to swing any deal as most teams in the hunt are dangerously flirting with the cap ceiling.
Kane turned up the intensity with a hat trick against the Maple Leafs, showing teams that regardless of any health concerns they may have, he can still put on a show and help any team's playoff push.
