Report: New York Rangers were never in on Patrick Kane
Patrick Kane is close to coming back from offseason hip surgery to play in the NHL. While he’s speaking with many teams and expected to make a decision soon, it won’t be with the New York Rangers.
On late Tuesday night, Larry Brooks of the NY Post reported that there would be no Broadway reunion for Kane and the Blueshirts.
The Rangers, according to well-placed industry sources, have never been in the mix for the right wing who will turn 35 on Sunday and has been skating on his own in Toronto for approximately the last six weeks after undergoing hip resurfacing surgery on June 1.
NY Post
Furthermore, Darren Dreger noted on TSN’s Insider Trading that the list of teams is around 8 and that they’d like to narrow it down by next week. Additionally, John Shannon stated that Kane met with the Toronto Maple Leafs yesterday as well.
The teams most linked to Kane this season are the Buffalo Sabres, Detroit Red Wings, Dallas Stars, and Florida Panthers. I would also add the Colorado Avalanche, since forwards Gabriel Landeskog and Artturi Lehkonen are both on LTIR. The former is expected to miss the entire season.
Related: Patrick Kane talking with teams
New York Rangers not in on Patrick Kane
Kane, 34, played 19 regular season games totaling 12 points, plus 7 postseason contests, adding another 6 for the Rangers last year.
While Kane sounded open to coming back and giving it another go after basically orchestrating a move to the Rangers at the Trade Deadline, the Blueshirts don’t have two nickels to rub together cap wise. Adam Fox is currently on LTIR, but expected to return when eligible later this month. Signing Kane would put them over the cap when the star defenseman is healthy.
Additionally, Kane is coming off major surgery which many NHL players have not been able to make a full recovery from. The latest is Nicklas Backstrom of the Washington Capitals, who shut it down this season after just 8 games.
On the newest episode of the Forever Blueshirts Show, Brooks’ colleague Mollie Walker indicated to us that there was nothing coming out of the Rangers organization about a possible reunion.
“I would really be happy to never answer another question about Patrick Kane ever again,” Walker said laughing. “Would the Rangers want to add a guy like Patrick Kane? The name, sure. The uncertainty of the player coming off of major surgery. I don’t know that’s a risk the Rangers want to take.”
Ultimately, the Rangers will likely be in the market for a right wing rental at this year’s deadline. If there’s a chance for any reunion, Vladimir Tarasenko with the Ottawa Senators is the one I believe could happen.
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