Source: Blackhawks Patrick Kane Has ‘No Interest’ in Islanders

The New York Islanders need to add a high-caliber forward if they are going to make the postseason. While there may have been interest in Chicago Blackhawks star Patrick Kane, the feeling is not mutual.

Per a league source, Kane has “no interest” in joining the Islanders, and that makes sense.

The Islanders, albeit not out of the playoff picture, are a long shot to make the postseason, especially given their recent play.

The 34-year-old forward, who has played his entire 16-year NHL career in Chicago, is a pending unrestricted free agent come season’s end. With the Blackhawks heavily involved in the tank-a-thon, the second-worst team in hockey by design, they are likely to part ways with Kane before or on March 3, the 2023 NHL Trade Deadline.

But only if Kane wants to leave, as he has a full no-movement clause.

After the New York Rangers acquired Vladimir Tarasenko and Niko Mikkola from the St. Louis Blues on Feb. 9, Kane told reporter Mark Lazerus that he wasn’t all too thrilled to see the trade, as the Rangers were one of the teams he was willing to go to.

TSN’s Carlo Colaiacovo has reported that the Maple Leafs were the only other team on Kane’s list besides the Rangers. 

“Based on the people that I’ve talked to, if Patrick Kane was to accept a trade somewhere, the two teams that I’ve been told are on his list are the New York Rangers and Toronto Maple Leafs,” Colaiacovo said on ‘First Up.’

However, the Rangers have $1.170 million in projected deadline cap space, per Puckpedia.

What drove the Ranger away from Kane, per ESPN’s Emily Kaplan, was the news that he has been having hip issues for the last few seasons, first reported by Andy Strickland.

Kane has missed four games this season (lower body) and has nine goals and 26 assists in 49 games.

The Buffalo native is still a talented player and has the playoff experience, playing a major role in the Blackhawks last three Stanley Cup victories (2010, 2013, 2015).

The likely scenario is that the Blackhawks retain 50 percent of his contract ($10.5 million), the Rangers would still need to pay $5.25 million, if they still had interest.

The Maple Leafs also cannot afford Kane, as they only have $1.130 million in deadline cap space.

So if Patrick Kane wants to play for someone else this season, he likely needs to expand his list.