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.
