Thursday has been a crazy day - so far.
Boston acquired Dmitri Orlov and Garnet Hathaway from Washington earlier, and as we reported in the afternoon - the New York Rangers are advancing in their plight to secure Patrick Kane from Chicago.
As it turns out, the Rangers are in fact closing in on a deal for Kane. Stefen Rosner of NYI Hockey Now reports that a source confirmed to him that Patrick Kane to the Rangers is "happening." New York already sat forwards Vitali Kravtsov and Jake Leschyshyn on Thursday night for "roster management purposes," which hinted that something was brewing either way.
Rosner writes: "Per the source, Rangers prospects Vitali Kravtsov and Zachary Jones are involved in the deal, with picks going to a third team to help deal with the financial burden of Kane's $10.5 million cap hit (Up to 50 percent retained by Chicago)."
Odd timing for a report of this magnitude. While nothing is official, this one seems pretty concrete.
We've known all along that the Rangers were the preferred destination for Kane, so this isn't exactly a surprise on that front. What is surprising, perhaps, is the the Rangers went big for Vladimir Tarasenko and are still going big for Kane. That is bold of GM Chris Drury.
Fortune does tend to favor the bold...
Full story from Rosner:
Per a trusted source, #NYR are hammering out the framework for a deal involving #Blackhawks Patrick Kane.
Sounds like it could be one that favors the Rangers:https://t.co/8NovG0fw7y— Stefen Rosner (@stefen_rosner) February 23, 2023
It's worth noting that Patrick Kane's agent - Pat Brisson - maintains that nothing has happened just yet, though. While a deal very well may be nearing completion, it ain't over 'til the --- ---- sings.
Per Brisson: "Patrick hasn't made any decision at this point."
To be fair, agents are always tight-lipped so as to prevent any meddling. Still, there is a ton of smoke around the Kane/NYR situation, and where there is smoke there tends to be fire.
Stay tuned...
From Patrick Kane's agent Pat Brisson:
«Patrick hasn't made any decision at this point.»
Which is what @reporterchris reported earlier on Insider Trading.
We'll see what the next few days bring.— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) February 24, 2023
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