The New York Rangers made a surprise deal last week when they acquired Vladimir Tarasenko from the St. Louis Blues. What made it so unexpected was that nearly everyone thought Patrick Kane, who has stated his desire to play for the New York Rangers, would be acquired from the Chicago Blackhawks by general manager Chris Drury.
Due to Kane's well-known hip injuries, which he is now playing through, they decided to choose the safer option. The New York Islanders, Boston Bruins, Colorado Avalanche, and Edmonton Oilers were all interested in signing Kane in order to make a playoff push.
The Carolina Hurricanes, Minnesota Wild, and now the Vegas Golden Knights have all put their names in the bucket to acquire Patrick Kane, so Kane now has even more options as the NHL trade deadline approaches, reported by Blackhawks Insider Mark Lazarus.
The Vegas Golden Knights, among all of these clubs and others, have the cap flexibility to acquire Kane without having to pay the Blackhawks' payroll since Robin Lehner and Mark Stone have now been placed on the Knights' long-term injured reserve.
