Friedman: Could Patrick Kane join Western Conference powerhouse?

That noise you hear outside of United Center in the Windy City is the sound of a massive tank rolling into town being driven by general manager Kyle Davidson. 

The Blackhawks are indeed in full tank mode, having made the bizarre decision to deal away 40-goal scorer Alex DeBrincat to the Ottawa Senators for relatively nothing in return, while also dealing Kirby Dach to the Montreal Canadiens and also informing Dylan Strome that he won't be returning next year. 

Immediately, this began even more speculation that the futures of franchise cornerstones Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews, who helped to raise the Blackhawks from the dead shortly after their having been drafted in the late 2000's, could soon lead them elsewhere. 

Of course, Toews has already been on record as publicly pouting about what he felt was a lack of communication and being on the same page as team management regarding the direction of the organization. Both Toews and Kane are entering the final years of their identical and hefty 8-year, $84 million pacts that they agreed to shortly after winning the 2015 Stanley Cup, and Chicago very well could decide to go complete scorched earth and try and deal one or both of their two highest profile players. 

According to NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman, don't be surprised to see the reigning Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche make a move for Kane.

“At some point in time, we’re going to get some clarity on Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews,” said Friedman. “I think they [Colorado] want it to breathe after the moves and the draft, but I do think that they’re going to talk to Chicago about their futures. Last year, Colorado was one of the teams that inquired about Patrick Kane before the trade deadline to see if he was available. If, and I stress this as an if, if Patrick Kane is available, I can see Colorado making another try for him. That’s my opinion, but I can see it.”

Talk about a case of the rich getting richer should a deal like that ultimately go down!