Three thoughts on Patrick Kane’s recent great play with the Blackhawks
The Patrick Kane trade rumors will be coming to an end rather soon as the trade deadline is just over a week away from taking place. The Chicago Blackhawks will be looking to add more and more assets while setting up their players with teams looking to succeed.
Patrick Kane has been the rumored player to move all season. He was long linked to the New York Rangers, but even that died down a bit after the Rangers traded for Vladimir Tarasenko. Kane did not look like himself for much of this season, but he has silenced that notion in his last few games.
Three thoughts on Patrick Kane’s recent great play with the Blackhawks
After a bad showing in Toronto on February 15, Kane has been lights out the last four games.
1. Patrick Kane reminded everyone why his nickname is showtime.
Even before the Blackhawks’ game last night against the Dallas Stars, Kane had been on fire. He had seven points in three games, including a hat trick in a win against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
He was playing big minutes against two tough playoff teams in Toronto and Vegas, and he also had a great showing on the road in Ottawa. That was all before he went to Dallas and helped flip the script on a game that was over by the start of the second period.
Trailing three to zero midway through the second period, Kane helped rally the team with two goals and an assist to tie the game heading into the third.
Here is a video of Kane’s first point on the night, a great pass to Max Domi, who got the Hawks on the board.
What a mini sauce pass by Patrick Kane, who connects with Max Domi on the power play. #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/IijbSNsHgH
— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) February 23, 2023
The Blackhawks went on to win the game 4-3, winning their fourth straight game in a row. With these games, Patrick Kane is elevating his value for a potential trade, but it might not matter when it comes to the return the Blackhawks get.
2. Kane might not be helping the Blackhawks as previously imagined.
The one good thing about trading Patrick Kane, from the perspective of the Blackhawks, was the return the team would get. Now, almost a week out from the deadline, it looks like there might not be a lot of options for the team.
It was reported by Pierre LeBrun that Kane would give the Blackhawks one team to talk to when it comes to a potential trade. For the Blackhawks, that means they have no leverage to help get a deal done. They would basically have their hands tied to accept whatever that potential team offers, which means it might not be the big return fans were hoping for.
Obviously, Kane has a right with the no-movement clause to put the Blackhawks in this position. He has earned the right to go to whatever team he wants, and the Blackhawks have indicated that they are going to do the right thing for him with any potential trade.
It is worth pointing out that this is what Kane had to say on Feb. 10, on his trade list.
“I don’t think the number will be six but you want to do right by the franchise. … You sign a contract with a no-movement clause, no-trade clause for a reason, right? Else I would’ve done a 6-team no-trade clause.”
— Phillip Thompson (@_phil_thompson) February 10, 2023
—Patrick Kane on whether it would help to expand the trade list pic.twitter.com/LFNbwzMoci
I guess fans might just have to accept one of the biggest splashes for the Blackhawks at the deadline might have been adding Nikita Zaitsev and a couple of draft picks.
3. Kane’s stellar performance comes at a price.
There is another cost of Kane and the Blackhawks’ success as of late. In the past four games, the Blackhawks have picked up eight points in the standings, points that could come back to haunt them.
After their win last night, the Blackhawks are four points up on the Columbus Blue Jackets and Anaheim Ducks for last place in the league. Those points could come back to hurt them later.
With that being said, it is fun to watch Kane playing great like this. While the Hawks’ chances at that top draft pick are being hurt a bit with the wins, it is fun to see Kane lighting the lamp and influencing games. Patrick Kane has 10 points in his last four games, including seven goals.