Artemi Panarin would love Rangers Patrick Kane deal

The NHL trade deadline is about a month away, and Artemi Panarin has indicated he’d like the Rangers to trade for his former Chicago Blackhawks teammate Patrick Kane, according to Molly Walker of the New York Post.

The two were teammates from 2015 to 2017 in Chicago, won the Stanley Cup in 2015 and played on the same line for most of their time as teammates. Panarin was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets in the summer of 2017 and signed a 7-year, $81.5 million contract with the New York Rangers in the summer of 2019.

We know the chemistry is there and the interest from Artemi Panarin’s side is there, and Walker said there’s ‘no doubt’ Rangers are interested in Patrick Kane when speaking with Forever Blueshirts. Rangers have also always made the most sense for Kane, according to The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun.

He has 34 points in 45 games this season. Those aren’t staggering numbers, but the Blackhawks are tied with the Blue Jackets for the fewest points in the league with 34.

The surrounding cast in Chicago isn’t ideal, and it would be reasonable to assume an increase in production with Panarin, with whom Kane has established chemistry. However, that doesn’t mean Kane at 34 would be producing at the same level he was in his prime if he joined Panarin in New York.

There is another element to this. Does it make sense financially for Rangers? Kane has one year left on his contract and is making $10.5 million, and the Rangers have about $1.5 million in cap space according to PuckPedia, so the Blackhawks would have to keep some cash or the Rangers offload their salaries to bring Kane to New York.

The caveat is that Kane has a full no-trade clause, so he’s totally in control of where he goes at the deadline. If Kane really wants to reunite with Panarin in New York, he can force the hand of the Blackhawks even if they have a better deal from another team.

The teams have until March 3 to reach an agreement.