It feels like a gimme that the Rangers will be the ones to sign Kane because he checks a lot of boxes that are particular to the franchise. Whether it's because of a club's need for scoring, its luxury ability to add someone of his caliber or a desperation play to catch lightning in a bottle, Kane makes sense in these spots.or at least we'll make it make sense.Īndrew Mordzynski/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images We're getting out ahead of things and picking six teams that would make sense for both sides. However, he is going to land somewhere in free agency. These are all solid marketing reasons to sign him, but there are questions about his play after his down performance this season. He's a legend already and future Hall of Famer. Still, Kane trails only Brett Hull and Mike Modano on the all-time scoring list for American players and is 41st overall. As it turns out, his hip is injured, and it's been nagging him for two years.

Before Chicago traded him to the New York Rangers, talk of whether his hip was in good shape was all the rage. It's an awkward time for Kane to hit the open market.

He's 34 years old and will turn 35 in November as he keeps climbing the all-time scorers list and tries to win another Stanley Cup. The eight-year, $84 million contract he signed back in 2014 is done. Kane has been an elite scorer and playmaker throughout his career and is arguably the greatest American player in NHL history. This will be a summer eight years in the making, the one when Patrick Kane hits unrestricted free agency.

Off season the unexpurgated edition