CHICAGO — The slow-motion departure of Patrick Kane was just another example of the disintegration of the once-proud franchise known as the Chicago Blackhawks.
As if it wasn’t enough to trade away a franchise player for draft picks and two journeyman players, the long and torturous road to getting the deal done with the New York Rangers was akin to death by a thousand high sticks to anyone who watched Kane grow up in a Blackhawks sweater.
The deal that became official Tuesday night sent Kane and Cooper Zech to the Rangers for a conditional second-round pick that could turn into a first-rounder in 2024 or ‘25 if New York makes the Eastern Conference finals. The Hawks also picked up a 2025 fourth-rounder and 29-year-old defenseman Andy Welinski from the Rangers and 25-year-old defenseman Vili Saarijärvi from the Arizona Coyotes.
So if you’re a Hawks fan, you should now be rooting for the Rangers, as difficult as that is for those who grew up in the Original Six era when the Chicago-New York rivalry was real.
The trade is good news for Kane, who has escaped to Manhattan to avoid what looks to be one of the longest rebuilds in NHL history. He has a chance at his fourth Stanley Cup, something that would’ve been a pipe dream had he not agreed to a trade and instead signed an extension over the summer to retire as a Blackhawk.
And it’s bad news for Hawks fans, who in the span of a couple of weeks lost Jonathan Toews to continued illness and now Kane to the Rangers. We can only hope and pray Toews returns for one last hurrah. If not, the dynasty duo ends with a whimper instead of a standing ovation at the United Center.
The Hawks knew this season would be a lost cause, of course, as did Kane. They also knew his trade value would diminish as a short-term rental, yet they waited until the week of the trade deadline to get something done. Without knowing whether Kane was willing to waive his no-trade clause before the season, it’s hard to blame general manager Kyle Davidson for not getting much back in return.
But getting a couple of draft picks and some no-names for an all-time great likely will go down as one of the most disappointing deals we’ve seen on the West Side. The Hawks now have 11 picks in this year’s draft, so pencil in 2027-28 on your calendar for season tickets.
The trade was reminiscent of the one former GM Bob Pulford made in the summer of 1996 when he sent Jeremy Roenick to the Coyotes for Alexei Zhamnov, Craig Mills and a first-round pick. Roenick and Zhamnov were restricted free agents at the time, and Roenick’s contract demands were higher than the Hawks were willing to go.
Zhamnov was hailed as a “magician” by his agent but never lived up to that billing.
“Indeed, on any given game night, Zhamnov would disappear, just like that,” Chicago Tribune columnist Bob Verdi opined.
No one was shocked by the Roenick trade, which was telegraphed because of his contract dispute with Bill Wirtz, the father of current Hawks Chairman Rocky Wirtz. The departure of Kane was made because, well, it’s not exactly clear yet, but apparently they did it out of respect for his career.
“This isn’t about me leaving the Blackhawks, but this is an opportunity for me,” Kane said in a statement. “The Blackhawks did everything they could to put me in a great position and I will forever be grateful.”
If this was a fait accompli, Davidson probably should’ve persuaded Kane to waive his no-trade clause before the season so both sides would get a fresh start and the Hawks could get more in return.
“To be honest, there hasn’t been much discussion about anything, even with my agent or my parents or my family,” Kane said on the first day of training camp.
Kane remained a good soldier throughout this tankathon, and his presence helped Hawks attendance from going completely down the tubes.
Though statistically speaking it has been a down year, Kane began showing signs of life at the end with seven goals and three assists in his last four games. His hat trick against the Toronto Maple Leafs in a 5-3 win on Feb. 19 would’ve been a fitting farewell, though it turned out to be his second-to-last home game.
It’s hard to believe the arrival of Kane and Toews in 2007 coincided with the team’s decision to ditch its long-standing policy of not showing home games on TV. It took the Hawks that long to evolve into the modern era, and 16 years later they’re almost back where they started.
It’s hard to say goodbye to someone you watched grow up. We can remember the bad playoff beard Kane started in 2010, only to pivot into a mullet that made up for his follicle-challenged face. There were also some dark moments, including a sexual assault investigation that tarred his image in 2015 but did not lead to charges. In 2016 the NHL announced it would take no disciplinary measures, calling the accusations against Kane unfounded.
As he grew older, Kane matured and put his partying image in the past. He welcomed his first child, Patrick Kane III, in November 2020 and sometimes would bring the toddler into the Hawks dressing room after games this season.
It would’ve been nice to see Kane retire as a Blackhawk, but it wasn’t meant to be. He came to the West Side when the franchise was rebuilding, fast-forwarded it through the dynasty years and leaves at the start of another rebuild.
Cue “Chelsea Dagger” one last time and turn out the lights.
The party is over.
