Blackhawks/Rangers both make a move ahead of rumored Patrick Kane trade.

The fact that Chicago Blackhawks star forward Patrick Kane could soon be a member of the New York Rangers could very well go down as one of the worst kept secrets in the history of trades made in the National Hockey League.

Saturday has produced quite the compelling story line on the Kane front with a number of updates throughout the day that indicate this trade is very likely to happen. The first such update came courtesy of Blackhawks insider Scott Powers, who reported on Saturday morning that there was only one destination on Kane's list, the aforementioned New York Rangers.

That in turn was followed by a report from NHL insider Elliotte Friedman that indicated the trade is nearing a conclusion, but that all of the parties involved were double and triple checking their work to make sure no mistakes had been made.

Now the latest indications that something is brewing between the Rangers and the Blackhawks come from the teams themselves. In the case of the Rangers, we've seen two players scratched for "roster management reasons" with both Vitali Kravtsov and Jake Leschyshyn left aside ahead of today's game, and that was followed by a second move that sent Leschyshyn to waivers.

The Blackhawks have also made a curious move of their own though with reports that Sam Lafferty has been made a healthy scratch tonight as well, in this case for "trade related reasons."

Scott Powers also believes Kane himself will be held out of action tonight, likely in anticipation of this deal becoming a reality.