KANE PART OF BLOCKBUSTER TRADE?

The ongoing scenario including Patrick Kane in the middle of nightmarish accusations could land him in jail for a major felony, or end his career with The Blackhawks.

Something to keep in mind is that charges have been yet to be filed. The status most likely will not change unless they find cold hard evidence. The accuser will not file charges unless she knows she can win the lawsuit. Besides the scenarios and the “what-ifs”, the real question is ‘Where and could Kane’s hockey career continue?’. 

The Blackhawks as an organization but specifically the GM, Stan Bowman, holds public image VERY highly. There probably isn’t a more image-conscious team in the NHL, if not all of professional sports, than the Blackhawks. The Blackhawks as a whole are always involved charity, players always signing autographs, smiling for the camera, and they never slip up in press conferences. The Hawks are the model franchise on and off the ice. The Chicago Blackhawks are brand, and quite possibly the most respectable teams in sports. As much as I love Showtime Patrick Kane, he hinders the image of the Blackhawks. Kane's on-ice legacy is already secure at just 26 years old. He helped bring three Stanley Cups to Chicago. He helped revitalize hockey in Chicago. He's a true superstar, can't-take-your-eyes-off-him player like few before him. He's always been great to fans, he's always been close with his teammates, he's always been one of the hardest workers on the team. He also has been one of the most prolific scorers in past decade, and often referred to as the best stickhandler, but there's an off-ice responsibility too. One Kane hasn't lived up to. As one team source put it, he “disrespected” the team and his teammates by once again putting himself in a bad situation. At least five teams contacted the Hawks once the Buffalo News first reported the investigation which involves Kane and a woman at his Hamburg home, and said they’d be willing trade partners should the Hawks decide to cut ties with their superstar winger, according to a league source. The 26-year-old is entering the first year of a record-setting eight-year, $84-million contract. So regardless of the legal outcome of the investigation, Kane’s future with the team is murky at best. To be clear, there has been no firm indication yet that the Hawks truly are willing to take that drastic step. But it’s a step the Hawks must consider. 

Training camp opens in a little more than two weeks. Will Kane be there, swarmed by local, regional and national press for his first comments since the investigation began? Will he not be there, fueling rampant speculation and uncomfortable questions for his teammates to dance around? Will the Hawks suspend him until the district attorney decides whether to file charges or not, just to be safe? Will the league step in and do it for them, making the Hawks look tentative and weak? And how long might the DA take? Weeks? Months? All year? A black cloud hanging over the Hawks everywhere they go as they defend their third Stanley Cup in six seasons? 

Every single one of these scenarios have something in common, they are all terrible for the Blackhawks.  Trading Kane isn’t.


The possible landing spots for Kane or a player his caliber are unlimited, there is not a single team that is not interested. While his cap hit is quite hefty teams would be willing to pull strings in order to bring him into the organization. Teams like The Oilers, Devils, Coyotes, Senators, Sabres, Panthers, Hurricanes, Blue Jackets, Jets, and The Flames all have the cap space to bring in Kane. If there is one thing I know about The Chicago Blackhawks it’s that their front office is outstanding, very intelligent, and cautious. If The Blackhawks decide to trade Kane it won’t be because they think it will be better for the team as a whole nor the morale of the locker room, it will simply be because he has been too much trouble for the organization by tainting their image and reputation. Kane is too important of a player for us to just trade away without getting a return.

We Will Not Trade Kane Unless The Price is Right

Kane will not leave Chicago unless the return is substantial. Therefore, I think that trading Kane could be the best thing for us right now. It would clear up 84 Million in cap space, bring in top shelf talent, and preferably bright prospects in which we can keep fueling the flames of the present day dynasty. In my head, the trade that makes the most sense would be sending Kane to the Oilers. In return, we would receive Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Nail Yakupov, and their 2016 1st round pick. In which we get two of the NHL’s brightest prospects and a 1st round pick of a historically unsuccessful team to do with what we wish. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins would be an outstanding fit in a needy second-line. He has all the tools to become successful with the Hawks, over and over he demonstrates exceptional vision and the ability to stretch the ice. RNH is incredibly talented at distributing the puck with potential in the goal-scoring area. Nail Yakupov is the exact opposite of his counterpart. Yakupov is a Russian skater, and they are known to snipe and nail the corners (no pun intended). Yakupov can paint the corners with extreme accuracy which fits well with Nugent-Hopkins who could create plays for him to finish. All in all, as much as I would be heart-broken to see one of my favorite athletes leave the team that I love, I don’t think we have a choice. Kane is one hell of a player, and will always be remembered as a Blackhawk in not only my heart, but every heart in Chicago and more.

-Ryan Musleh
Comment what you think below. 
Here is a highlight reel to remind you of Kane’s greatness