01 March 2023 , 16:36
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After 16 seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks, Patrick Kane has finally moved on and traded to the New York Rangers.
The no.1 draft pick from the 2007 NHL draft departs as nothing less than a franchise legend, helping them win three Stanley Cup trophies during his wonderful career. The 34-year-old forward moved to the Rangers on Tuesday after an agreement was reached between three teams, as the Arizona Coyotes are also involved.
Kane is considered one of the Blackhawks greatest ever players, and leaves as the second highest point scorer in franchise history. The forward was seen fighting back tears after netting what turned out to be his last hat-trick for the Blackhawks, and following the move, he sent out an emotional message.
The three-time Stanley Cup winner took to social media to address the world after his trade to the Rangers was completed, and has received countless tributes from fans, staff and both team-mates past and present. Kane wrote: "Chicagooooooo - there simply are no words to express my family's love and appreciation for the Blackhawks organization, my teammates, this city, and the greatest fans in the world welcoming me here since being drafted in 2007.
"Thank you for giving me a chance and supporting me like your own through 1,297 games played in the most iconic sweater, including three Stanley Cups and thousands of memories to last a lifetime." The Blackhawks will retain 50 per-cent of his salary, while picking up a conditional second-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, a fourth-round pick in the 2025 draft and also defenseman Andy Welinski.
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The Coyotes will receive a conditional third-round pick in the 2025 draft, as their pledge to cover 25 percent of his salary helped the deal go through to comply with the Rangers salary cap. The Rangers also got defensive prospect Cooper Zech from the Blackhawks, and Arizona's Vili Saarijarvi has gone to Chicago.
It's an exciting deal for the Rangers, as it will see Kane line-up with former team-mate Artemi Panarin - who was at the Blackhawks back in 2015. Kane loved playing with Panarin, and due to the no-move clause in his deal, he was able to negotiate his own destiny.
Kane was given a touching send off as trade rumours became genuineKane may have won three Stanley Cups already, but he's desperate to win another and it was unlikely that it would be possible at the Blackhawks. Therefore, he chose the Rangers as his new destination, and said in a press release: "This has been an emotional time for me and my family, but I feel this decision puts me in the best spot to immediately win another Stanley Cup.
"This isn’t about me leaving the Blackhawks, but this is an opportunity for me – the Blackhawks did everything they could to put me in a great position and I will forever be grateful." Kane could either make his Rangers debut on Wednesday night away to the Philadelphia Flyers, or on Thursday night in front of his new home crowd as they take on the Ottawa Senators.