Five NHL Teams That Should Take a Chance on Patrick Kane This Offseason
New York, New York (PSF) - This past season was Patrick Kane’s final year on his current contract. The future Hall-of-Famer will have to reflect on this season before going into this summer’s free agency.
Kane struggled through the 2022-23 season due to a hip injury. After 16 seasons in Chicago, he was traded to the Rangers on Feb 28 in a three-team deal where the expectations were high for the Rangers to win the Stanley Cup with the roster at hand but were eliminated by the New Jersey Devils in the opening round.
Kane can miss the start of the 2023-24 season after undergoing hip surgery, but hopes of receiving a lucrative contract aren’t realistic for him to get this summer. He’s only a year removed from a 92-point performance in the 2021-22 season, he’s expected to make a full recovery and there will be clubs willing to take a chance on him next season.
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The five teams I think that should take a chance on Kane are: the Buffalo Sabres, Carolina Hurricanes, Colorado Avalanche, New York Rangers, and the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The Sabres have been rebuilding the last few years and are on the cusp of breaking through as a playoff contender in the 2023-24 season, and with Kane being a Buffalo native, that could make this a possibility for Kane this summer.
The Hurricanes finished this season with their second-best record in points in franchise history. They were second overall in the standings and made it to the Eastern Conference Finals where they were swept by the Panthers. The Hurricanes have room to add a veteran scorer on an affordable short-term contract. Trying to get Kane on the roster could be what they need to get to the promised land.
The Avalanche had an interest in Kane this past season before he was dealt to New York and they might revisit those talks, especially with their left wing Gabriel Landeskog out for next season they’ll have $19.6 million in cap space, and Kane could become a cost-effective replacement.
Lacking experienced scoring at the right wing, the New York Rangers loaded up at the March trade deadline. With just $11.8 million in cap space and some restricted free agents due for contracts, the Rangers can’t afford to make any expensive moves. The Rangers could possibly make a $3 million one-year deal for Kane by resigning the free agents they have and see if they can have a full season with the talent all there to try and compete for the Stanley Cup.
After missing the playoffs for the first time since 2006, the Pittsburgh Penguins fired their general manager and the team president. They now face the challenge of retooling the roster hoping for one more Stanley Cup run with the roster at hand. The addition of Kane on a one-year deal could help them stage a quick turnaround for the 2023-24 season.
We will see how Kane’s free agency goes this summer if any of these teams are on the radar for him.
