Kane remains a superior offensive talent at age 33. The combination of his contract expiring after this season and the Blackhawks in the midst of a full rebuilding mode just about guarantees the Hawks’ braintrust will try to acquire some younger talent or some draft picks in exchange for Kane prior to this season’s trading deadline.
Chicago started its firesale in the recent offseason, unloading high-scoring Alex DeBrincat and former first-round pick Kirby Dach, and letting Dominik Kubalik and Dylan Strome leave as free agents. The carrot, of course, is 17-year-old superstar-to-be Connor Bedard of the Regina Pats, eligible for next summer’s draft. The Hawks hope they can maximize their chances of getting the first overall pick by being as bad as possible this season. With Bedard in the lineup, along with talent and draft picks acquired in various trades, Chicago’s return to respectability could happen quite quickly.
So is Kane a goner for sure? Without a doubt. The Hawks are not going to let Kane play out his contract in what will be a dismal season, and then let him walk away as a free agent next summer. They’ll wait in February or early March for the phone to ring from teams with Stanley Cup dreams and offering untold riches to the Blackhawks in exchange for 25 or 30 games — plus a long playoff run — from Kane.
The Buffalo native is generally regarded as one of the top two or there American-born hockey players of all time (Mike Modano, Pat Lafontaine, Auston Matthews and Brian Leetch are in the conversation). He was part of three Stanley Cup-winning teams in Chicago, won a scoring championship, an MVP trophy and a Conn Smythe (playoff MVP) award in his illustrious career after being the No. 1 overall draft pick in 2007. He owes Chicago nothing, but the Hawks owe it to him to send him to a team with a chance for another Cup, while bolstering their own future at the same time.
The Hockey News suggested four potential landing sites for Kane, including his home town of Buffalo, the resurgent Detroit Red Wings, defending champion Colorado Avalanche and, of course, Toronto Maple Leafs, who would love to shake that “no Cup since 1967” label from the front of their sweaters. Other sources suggest New York Rangers, already a Cup contender, might be a perfect fit for Kane.
Wherever he goes, it will be anything but an acrimonious departure from Chicago. The trade announcement will feature smiles all around, from Kane, the Hawks and the receiving team. Besides the big smile on their faces, the Hawks management will have their fingers crossed that the strategy of being Bad for Bedard pays off.
- Dwight Perry of the Seattle Times: “BetMGM announced that it is now an official sports betting partner of the Cincinnati Reds, including a sportsbook at Great American Ballpark. ‘Say what?’ said Pete Rose, dropping his tout sheet.
- An anonymous ‘commentator’ in a New Yorker story about the LIV golf tour: “LIV needs a public investment fund to sportwash its association with Patrick Reed.”
- Comedy guy Steve Burgess of Vancouver: “Sports betting is getting so sophisticated that even during the game you can bet on how big a lead the Canucks will blow.”
- Greg Cote of the Miami Herald: “LeBron James’ son Bronny is one of five amateurs to be given Nike NIL deals. Bronny said thanks but couldn’t be understood because of the silver spoon in his mouth.”
- Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel: “NASCAR has suspended Bubba Wallace for a retaliatory move in which he intentionally rammed and wrecked Kyle Larson’s car during last week’s race at Vegas. In related news, Dale Earnhardt Sr. just rolled over in his grave.”
- RJ Currie of sportsdeke.com: “According to a British study, crossing one’s fingers can reduce feelings of pain. Finally, some good news for Houston Texans fans.”
- Dwight Perry again: “The second-year Seattle Kraken have released a ‘reverse retro’ jersey for those feeling a nostalgic twinge for, say, mid-2021.”
- Packers lineman Jon Runyan Jr., to ESPN, after getting a letter saying he had been fined $5,215 for leg-whipping an opponent — from his father Jon Sr., NFL vice president of football operations: “I thought since I left for college, I wouldn’t have to deal with him punishing me anymore, but I was wrong about that.”
- Dan Daly of DalyOnSports.com: “Too many NFL games this season feel like Week 4 in 1987, when the Real Players were on strike and your gym teacher was playing linebacker.”
- Steve Simmons of SunMedia: “Watching Josh Allen play quarterback against Patrick Mahomes is a little like having Elvis Presley open a concert for Frank Sinatra. You don’t know what you’re going to see or hear — you just know it’s going to be spectacular.”
- Bruce Penton
Care to comment? Email brucepenton2003@yahoo.ca
