Patrick Kane is the newest member of the New York Rangers. The move that many predicted before the 2022-23 season began has come to fruition and the Blueshirts are now in an “all-in” rush to a Stanley Cup Championship.
New York’s deal with Chicago was done without giving up a top prospect currently on the roster, while also (for the current moment) keeping a first-round pick. It doesn’t come without its downsides though.
With Kane’s contract, New York now only is able to have 21 skaters on the roster for the rest of the regular season. While the lack of cap space could come as an issue later on in the season, it wasn’t enough to deter the Rangers’ front office.
“We definitely took that into consideration. There probably wasn’t another situation where we would have pushed the limits. But to get a Patrick Kane, you don’t get an opportunity like that very often” Rangers general manager Chris Drury said to Vince Mercogliano of SNY.
So how exactly did a trade for a three-time Stanley Cup Champion come to fruition? In the end, it eventually came down to the fact that Patrick Kane wanted to be a member of the Rangers.
“I think Patrick recognized it was a good fit for him and it’s a good fit for us. We’re certainly excited that he wanted to be traded and that it was to the New York Rangers.” Drury added.
New York announced that Kane would not make the trip to Philadelphia on Wednesday and instead will make his Blueshirts debut against the Ottawa Senators on Thursday night at Madison Square Garden.
It’s been an incredibly busy yet successful trade deadline time for Drury and New York’s front office. The team initially acquired Vladimir Tarasenko in mid-February which originally was thought to be the main deal New York could accomplish during the trade deadline. But with Kane’s assistance in becoming a Ranger, the franchise’s plans for title contention altered.
Even if that means the franchise’s roster makeup is different than last year’s championship run.
“He (Kane) certainly knows how to play in big games and play in physical games and play in tight areas… I’m confident in this group. I like our makeup.” Drury explained further to Mercogliano.
New York’s deadline deal puts them in a tough situation. Anything less than a championship will be considered an absolute failure as the playoffs draw closer. A move for Kane, Tarasenko, and Tyler Motte, makes the Rangers one of the most balanced teams in hockey.
Now the execution will be the most important next step.
