Blackhawks attempt to gain control of Patrick Kane’s no-trade clause
What’s happening in Chicago?
HockeyFeed
The Chicago Blackhawks are lining things up to finish at the very last place of the NHL standings in 2022-23 and getting their hands on the projected first-overall pick of the 2023 NHL Draft Connor Bedard. Blackhawks GM Kyle Davidson pulled off two large trades last week on the draft floor in Montreal. First up, Davidson traded star forward Alex DeBrincat to the Ottawa Senators in exchange for the 7th overall pick, a 2nd round and a 3rd pick. Then Davidson shipped out former 3rd overall pick Kirby Dach to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for the 13th overall pick and another 2nd round pick. In essence, the Blackhawks loaded up on draft picks by shipping out DeBrincat and Dach.
It didn’t take long after the moves for fans to demand a reaction from veteran players, like Patrick Kane, in order to understand and maybe predict what they might want to do. There is a sense in Chicago that the Blackhawks are doing everything they can to push players like Kane and captain Jonathan Toews out the door. Only three players remain from the 2019-20 roster in those two and defenseman Connor Murphy.
Both Kane and Toews have a year remaining on their identical contracts with annual salary-cap hits of $10.5 million, per Cap Friendly. Their full no-movement clauses give them full control over where they play in 2022-23.
But according to many, the Blackhawks appear to be putting things in motion to somehow gain control of Kane’s NTC and get him to angry to a trade out of Chicago.
“They’ve basically traded everyone he’s ever enjoyed playing with,” one person said.
Some could say that if Kane and Toews ever want to be traded, it’s more likely to happen at the trade deadline. Chicago could then choose to take on some of Kane and Toews’ cap hits and plenty of Stanley Cup contenders will be lining up for them as rentals. But can Kane deal with the current roster for more than half a season before maybe getting out at the trade deadline?
Maybe the Blackhawks are dreaming and so set on landing Connor Bedard, that all feeling are out of the equation in Chicago…
