Who is going give up the 1st and blue chip prospect that Kane would accept a trade to? History does not support that price paid to a rental. And while we have seen trades and extensions (Tkachuk, Jones, Stone, ect.) none of those players were 34 years old. Hell, Florida had to include Huberdeau, Weager, and a 1st to get Tkachuk in the first place. Look how little value Huberdeau had.
Hey- Patrick Kane is my favorite player over the last 20 years and I hope the Hawks get a great return for him. I am basing my view on several factors: 1) A small number of Cup-contending teams that would trade for him. 2) Kane has a NMC and will only accept a deal to a team he wants to play for. Look how little Philly got for Giroux last season. 3) The current value of wingers is very low with top 6 wingers literally be given away. 4) Wing is the least valuable position that playoff teams need. 5) JT Miller is an option that any playoff team could opt for instead of Kane. 5) Blue chip prospects are rarely ever traded.
I think the best scenarios for Chicago would be the Rangers with some combination of a 1st, Jones, Lundqvist, or Othmann. Colorado with Newhook even though that would surprise me. Carolina with a 1st and maybe someone like Morrow. Sure, Dallas has the prospects but do they really think they are that close? Maybe LA has a great 1st half- Kane would probably like to play in LA. Then you have the fringe-contending teams like Edmonton, St Louis, Washington, Pittsburgh- are they really going to give up a huge package for Kane?
When you start looking at the actual teams that Kane would make sense with and has the return that Chicago is looking for, you just don't have that many teams. Granted, all it takes is one team to make an offer that surprises everyone. Did anyone think Tkachuk would return such a haul? Going to be fascinating to see what happens. I'm really looking forward to watching Kane in the playoffs again. Really hoping it is NYR, Colorado, or Carolina.