The Chicago Blackhawks dealing Patrick Kane to the New York Rangers finally appears set to happen this evening deal after days of unrest – but the return isn’t great.

The Blackhawks are expected to get back a conditional second-round pick in 2023 and a fourth-round pick, reports NHL insider Frank Servalli.

It could become a first-round pick in either 2024 or 2025 if the Rangers win two playoff rounds.

With the Blackhawks retaining 50 percent of Kane’s $10.5 cap hit, the Arizona Coyotes will reportedly get a third-round pick for paying a portion of his salary.

That would lead to the Rangers only being responsible for just over a $2.6 million cap hit on Kane’s deal.

While it was a long a complicated process it’s not surprising that we got to this point.

It was no secret that Kane would only waive his no-movement clause to play for the Rangers.

But the Rangers had to figure out a number of issues including finding a third party to eat up a portion of Kane’s contract to make the salary work.

The Rangers were forced in the past few days to get creative by trading forward Vitali Kravtsov and make multiple transactions between the AHL and NHL to make a deal work.

But it appears that it’s now over.

The Blackhawks get peanuts in return for one of the NHL’s top-scoring leaders in the past several years.

Normally this kind of deal would at least fetch a legit NHL-owned – but Kane didn’t give the organization any other option and took full advantage of his no-movement clause.

The Blackhawks only got back what the Rangers were willing to give up.

Now the Rangers will hope that Kane will be enough to take them over the top to win its first Stanley Cup since 1994.

The Buffalo, New York native is expected to make his debut on Wednesday with the Rangers.

While the trade hasn’t officially happened yet, it would be shocking if Kane got cold feet and refused to waive his no-move clause.

The trade will become official once the trade call is complete, which is expected to happen sometime tonight.

The New York Rangers and Patrick Kane have had the sports world on edge in the past 48 hours, as a deal is being worked on.

It all started when the team made forwards Vitali Kravtsov and Jake Leschyshyn unavailable to play on Thursday due to “roster management reasons.”

And of course, it’s very obvious that those two players are needed to go the other way to have any hope of getting Kane.

But the fact that the Rangers were willing to do that and play with 11 forwards and seven defensemen on Thursday might tell you that the organization feels confident that it will have a resolution soon.

If it’s not Kane getting dealt to the team today, all signs point to the Rangers making some sort of move to prepare for it.

And that would include putting at least one of Leschyshyn and Kravtsov on waivers today, assuming there’s no trade.

Assuming Leschyshyn gets placed on waivers today, that would give the Rangers $1.56 million in cap space, according to Rangers beat reporter Vince Mercogliano.

Then adding Kravtsov to a Kane trade would give it just enough room to make something work.

The Rangers would need around $2.63 million in cap space and it would reach that target by the March 3 trade deadline assuming those moves are made.

Having the Chicago Blackhawks retain 50% of Kane’s $10.5 million cap hit and another team swallowing 25% would do it.

But finding a third party shouldn’t be a huge issue as the Minnesota Wild have done this already twice this year – with the Ryan O’Reilly, as well as with the Dmitry Orlov and Garnet Hathaway trades.

That should cost the Rangers a middle-to-late-round draft pick.

Multiple reports claim that the Rangers and Blackhawks are laying out the framework for the deal.

Along with Kravtsov, defensive prospect Zac Jones has been involved in discussions.

So if there is a deal in place, the only thing left is whether Kane would waive his no-movement clause for the Rangers by the March 3 deadline?

While there has been no decision made yet from Kane, he is only reportedly considering a move to the Rangers.

Waivers start at 2 pm today and the Blackhawks will skate around then.

On Friday, Kane took a “maintenance day.”

But regardless, something is likely happening today – but this potential deal will be complicated for a multitude of reasons.

The New York Rangers have traded away Ryan Reaves and some are wondering if that will set up a big future move at some point this season.

Overall, just getting a fifth-round draft pick for a player who was scratched in seven of the last eight games with the original six hockey club seems like a big win alone for general manager Chris Drury.

But most importantly, the move gives the Rangers much-needed cap relief.

It now has just more than $2 million to work with.

More interestingly that number is projected to jump to about $6.68 million by this season’s trade deadline, which takes place on March 3.

That deal puts the Rangers back in a legit conversation to make a run at star Chicago Blackhawks winger Patrick Kane.

The Rangers with two first-round picks for the upcoming draft.

However, there are still some challenges that would need to be overcome to make a deal work.

For one, Kane’s cap hit sits at $10.5 million – meaning the Rangers would need the Blackhawks to retain some salary or take a contract.

Usually, rebuilding teams like the Blackhawks are more than willing to do this if a team is willing to add a sweetener to the package.

That could include another draft pick or a player/prospect.

The other issue is Kane has a full no-move clause – meaning he doesn’t even have to accept a trade anywhere if he does not want to.

Also, it’s important to note Kane’s troubling history off the ice.

In 2009, Kane and his cousin pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct after being accused of beating up a cab driver.

Also, the 34-year-old was under investigation after being accused of rape in Buffalo, New York but was not charged.

Kane only has months left on his current deal with the Blackhawks and he could accept a trade to go play for a Stanley Cup contender.

As expected the Blackhawks are having an abysmal season, sitting last in the Central Division with just 16 points.

Expect the Blackhawks to approach not only Kane but its other franchise cornerstone Jonathan Toews about trades as we get closer to the deadline.

As always, the Rangers will be an attractive draw under the bright lights of Madison Square Garden.

But it’s still early in the season and as of right now the Rangers are sitting out of a playoff position.

If that continues, then it’s less likely that the team would risk it and make a big deal for Kane.

So far on the season, Kane has 16 points (3 goals 13 assists) in 20 games.

Trade rumors have been swirling around Chicago Blackhawk’s top players including Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane all offseason, but it was downplayed by both players.

On the first day of training on Thursday, Kane and Toews both addressed the media.

“Just a lot of noise and a lot of rumors,” Kane said. “I don’t think there was too much to anything.” 

Toews said: “A lot of change overall by the organization, but it’s nice to get settled in. There’s no more talk. You just get to go out and play and start moving forward.”

In the offseason, the Blackhawks made a major shakeup to its core and appear committed to a full rebuild.

It traded star winger Alex DeBrincat to Ottawa Senators for a package that included the 7th overall pick in the 2022 draft.

It also traded 21-year-old Kirby Dach, who was selected third overall in 2019, for a first and third-round pick in 2022.

Additionally, the Blackhawks let Dylan Strome walk in unrestricted free agency.

The moves indicate that both Toews and Kane could be next.

While it may not happen in the coming weeks as the Blackhawks get set for the regular season, there’s a chance it happens closer to the trade deadline, which is on February 20.

This is assuming that the Blackhawks aren’t in a playoff position as expected.

But two things make a trade complicated.

First, keep in mind both Toews and Kane have one year left with $10.5 million cap hits.

So, the Blackhawks would have to find a team near the trade deadline that would be able to absorb it.

The Blackhawks can also retain a portion of each player’s salary – up to 50%.

But the biggest issue is both have full no move clauses (NMC).

That means Kane and Toews control their trade destinations.

Also, both can refuse to waive their NMCs period and stay pat with the Blackhawks for the remainder of the regular season.

But Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson may be calling both players to see where they want to be traded if the Blackhawks do in fact endure a lot of losing this season.

“As far as any player movement, we’re not anywhere near that point. We’re focused on Jonathan and Patrick being here and being part of the team and competing right from the opening day,” Davidson told the media this week. 

But a trade does seem like the inevitable – whether it happens in February or sooner. 

The Boston Bruins lost only their third game of the season Thursday after being edged out by the Central Division’s last place Chicago Blackhawks, 4-3 in overtime. After blowing a three goal lead in the third period, Jonathan Toews scored the game-winning goal a minute into overtime.

Ryan Carpenter started off the scoring for the Blackhawks with a short-handed goal in the first period. Dylan Strome followed up with a goal 40 seconds later after he redirected a shot from Erik Gustafsson.

30 SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2018 – TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW 

Alex DeBrincat really needed to get going after not scoring for Chicago in the last 12 games. The 21-year-old American is coming off a season where he netted 41 goals with 76 total points. He finally answered the bell blasting a wrist shot stick side past Rask on a breakaway in the third period.

“It was a long time between goals. But hopefully I can get hot again and keep going,” DeBrincat said.

Boston surged back with third period goals coming from Joakim Nordstrom and Chris Wagner, before Torrey Krug tied the game at 3-3 with two and a half minutes remaining.

After stripping the puck from Bruins’ star David Pastrnak, Toews and Blackhawks’ right wing Patrick Kane ,skated down the ice with a two on none breakaway. Toews was able to deke out Bruins’ goalie Tuukka Rask and score on the backhand in front of a hostile TD Garden crowd in Boston. This is definitely an upset considering Boston is first in the Atlantic Division with 45 points (20-3-6) and 15 points clear of the second place Florida Panthers.

The Chicago Blackhawks will host the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday evening, and here is what you need to know.

Blackhawks host Golden Knights On Nov. 27

Vegas (12-12-1) won their last game 5-2 against the Blackhawks (9-10-5) on Feb. 13. The Golden Knights are third in the Pacific Division and are coming off three straight victories, including two back-to-back shutouts: a 6-0 win over the San Jose Sharks on Saturday and a 2-0 win over the Calgary Flames on Friday.

Meanwhile, the Blackhawks are struggling at sixth in their division. Chicago is coming off a 5-4 overtime victory over the Florida Panthers on Saturday, but before that lost eight of ten games since November started. The team’s only two wins in that ten-game stretch were against St. Louis and Minnesota.

The Blackhawks rank 11th in the Western conference and 22nd in the NHL, with 23 points this season. Chicago is also fifth in the wildcard race.

30 SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2018 – TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW

The Golden Knights are 8th in the West and 18th in the league with 25 points on the season. They are also fifth in the wildcard race, second in the NHL in shots allowed, third in win percentage when leading after the second period, and sixth in total face-offs won. Vegas is ranked low, however, in goals per game (26th) and power-play percentage (22nd).

Patrick Kane will be watched closely, as he logged one goal and one assist for the Blackhawks in 24:25 minutes of ice time in Saturday’s win over Florida. Cam Ward made 34 saves on 38 shots.

Vegas is powered by veteran goalie Marc-Andre Fleury, who blocked all 33 shots he faced in Saturday’s win over the Sharks.

Tuesday’s game at United Center will start at 8 p.m. EST and will air on NBC Sports.

The Tampa Bay Lightning will continue their home-stand Friday night by hosting the Chicago Blackhawks.

Lightning Host Blackhawks On Black Friday

The game will start at 7:30 p.m. EST and will air on NBC Sports.

Tampa Bay head coach Jon Cooper revealed this week that two minor changes were made to the team’s top two lines: powerful pair Nikita Kucherov and Steven Stamkos will now be on different lines. Since this change was made, the Lightning (15-6-1, 1st in Atlantic Division) beat the Florida Panthers 7-3 at home on Wednesday behind a combined two goals and seven points.

“We shook the lines up a little bit and it seemed to give everybody a little energy,” Cooper told Fox Sports. “But (Stamkos) was seeing it, he was feeling it a little bit. He earned all the breaks he was getting, and he was making some fabulous plays out there and that’s probably why he ends up with four points.”

30 SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2018 – TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW

Meanwhile, the Blackhawks (8-9-5) are sixth in the Central Division. Chicago replaced its head coach on Nov. 6: Jeremy Colliton took over for Joel Quenneville. Since then, the team has only won two of their seven games.

Despite boasting top players like Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews and Brandon Saad, the Blackhawks are one of the lowest-scoring teams in the NHL (2.64 goals per game on average).

Chicago is coming off a 4-2 road loss to the Washington Capitals on Wednesday, which started with them trailing 1-0 just 54  seconds into the game. Corey Crawford made 23 saves for the Blackhawks that day.

Chicago Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane became the first American-born player since 1925 to win the Hart Trophy as the NHL’s most valuable player on Wednesday.

Blackhawks’ Patrick Kane Becomes NHL’s First US-Born Hart Trophy Winner Since 1925

Billy Burch, who was born in Yonkers in 1900 and played as a centre/forward for the Blackhawks and the Boston Bruins among others, became the first American-born MVP in 1925. However, Burch moved to Canada at a young age and identified himself as a Canadian.

Thus, Kane, 27, is the first NHL player born and raised in the US to win the Hart Trophy. Kane also won the 2016 Art Ross Trophy by leading the NHL with a career-high 106 points, generating a 17-point edge on the second-place finisher, Dallas Stars captain Jamie Benn. Kane’s second-best output was 88 points in 2009-10, so this past season was easily his most productive.

CSN Chicago’s Tracey Myers corrected herself on Twitter after she realized she had erroneously called Kane the first-ever US-born NHL player to win the Hart Trophy.

An Associated Press sports writer then responded:

Pittsburgh Penguins centerman Sidney Crosby was also a finalist for the 2016 Hart Trophy.

Kane was born and raised in Buffalo, playing every year of his amateur hockey in the United States, save for his pre-draft season in the Canadian junior ranks.

Actor Michael Keaton presented the award, and Kane showed some love for the movie star, calling him “the best Batman ever.”

The Blackhawks winger secured 1,395 votes from the Pro Hockey Writers Association– which chooses the MVP– including 12 first-place votes. Crosby, who helped lead the Penguins to this year’s Stanley Cup, was the runner-up with 800 points and only 11 first-place votes. Benn came in third with 637 points and eight first-place votes.

Kane’s 106 points represented an 18-point increase from his previous career high. He also scored 46 goals, 16 more than his previous career best. Kane has already won three Stanley Cups in 2010, 2013 and 2015 as a member of the Blackhawks, who drafted him as the first overall pick in 2007.

The Blackhawk took the time to praise Crosby and Benn in his acceptance speech. “Obviously, I have to congratulate Jamie and Sid on tremendous years, especially Sid on the Cup,” said Kane. “You guys are two of my favorite players in the game, and I love watching you guys on TV every night.”

Kane finished by thanking one of his oldest childhood friends as well as Chicago fans, and also dedicated the award to his father.

In addition to winning the Hart, Kane also set the record for the longest point-scoring streak by an American in NHL history. In a 26-game run from Oct. 17 to Dec. 13, 2015, he put up 40 points, thus leaving people wondering if he could surpass Wayne Gretzky’s 51-game mark.

Kane was also the subject of a rape investigation after he was accused of assaulting a woman in his Buffalo-area home in August. After the lengthy investigation, no charges were ever brought against Kane, with the Erie County District Attorney stating there was no evidence to support the claim. The NHL also investigated the situation and found no reason for additional discipline against the forward.

The Chicago Blackhawks set a new record on Tuesday night following their 4-1 road victory over the Nashville Predators: they secured their 12th straight victory, their highest-winning streak in franchise history. They even surpassed the 11-game-winning mark they set in the final 11 games of their record 21-0-3 start to the lockout-shortened 2013 season.

During the game, Chicago right winger Patrick Kane tied his career-high with his 30th goal this season (a record he previously reached in the 2009-2010 season), and goalie Corey Crawford also set a personal record by securing his ninth consecutive victory, with 38 total saves (16 of which came in the third period alone).

“Ninety years,” Blackhawks head coach Joel Quenneville said. “We’re happy it took this long to get 12 in a row and proud of it. It’s a great achievement.”

This was also the Hawks’ sixth straight road win. The first period proved rather lackluster, until the final minute, when Kane, Artemi Panarin, and Artem Anisimov made a great play. Panarin took a pass from Kane and moved toward the net, while Anisimov slick back behind the crowd of Predators and took a slick pass from Panarin to beat Nashville goalie Pekka Rinne for a 1-0 lead with just 22 seconds left in the first period.

Then, three goals were scored in the second period in an 85-second span. First, Richard Panik scored at 2:43 in the second after ripping a shot from the right circle past Rinne. Nashville’s Ryan Ellis then beat Crawford 25 seconds later on a shot from just inside the blue line. One minute after that, Panaris hit Kane for a breakaway, and Kane scored to put the Hawks up 3-1.

Finally, Andrew Desjardins scored an empty-net goal with 37 seconds left to close out Chicago’s victory 4-1.

Kane currently leads the NHL in goals, assists, and points (71 points through 49 games). He also beat Pit Martin for seventh on the all-time franchise scoring list with 628 points in 625 games.

“Getting the franchise record for wins in a row is pretty special, and something we can all be proud about,” Kane said. “It’s fun to win 12 in a row.”

Chicago Blackhawks star forward Patrick Kane walked into the record books last night as he recorded an assist during a game which resulted in a point. Kane broke the Blackhawks’ point-streak record set by hockey great Bobby Hull of 21 consecutive games where he recorded a point in each of those games.

The point came on an assist to Artemi Panarin’s empty net goal against the Winnepeg Jets last night at the United Center in Chicago, and resulted in a 3-1 win. During his 22 game point streak which started on Oct. 17, Kane has had 13 goals and 23 assists in that time span. Not only is it a Blackhawks record but the longest streak in NHL history ever recorded by an American-born player.

Hull set the record during the 1971-72 season when he recorded 35 points on 23 goals and 12 assists. Another big feat with Kane’s assist is that he passed Jeremy Roenick for eighth all-time in franchise history with 598 points.

The Blackhawks are currently 14-9-4 with 32 team points currently recorded.

Chicago Blackhawks star winger Patrick Kane will not be formally charged by New York State prosecutors for the rape allegations that he was been accused of back in August. Last week, Kane’s accuser signed an affidavit stating that she wanted to forgo the prosecution as a result of emotional distress for her and her family.

This case has been an unusually extended one for the timeline it has brought. Last month, the accuser’s rape kit went through an apparent hoax involving the brown paper bag it was kept in. Kane’s lawyer called for an immediate close on the case and authorities agreed because of lack of evidence. The kit itself showed no traces of Kane’s DNA but other male profiles who may have been in contact with the accuser that night of the alleged crime. The Blackhawks have been under scrutiny but the NHL have found no wrongdoing in their cooperation with authorities throughout the legal process – even Blackhawks fans cheered for the star player during the first preseason game when he was on the ice, while other teams’ fans have mocked him for the investigation.

The alleged crime involving Kane happened on August 1 when he was out at the SkyBar club in the Buffalo suburb of Hamburg where he stayed out late, eventually going home with a friend and two women. One of the women would then go on to tell police on Aug. 2 that Kane had sexually assaulted her in his home and went to a hospital immediately to get a rape kit procedure done.

Kane has been part of the dominating Blackhawks since being drafted by the team in 2007, winning three Stanley Cups in 2010, 2013 and 2015.

Photo: CHICAGO, IL – NOVEMBER 04: Patrick Kane #88 of the Chicago Blackhawks skates during warm-ups wearing a purple jersey for the “Hockey Fights Cancer” awareness campaign before a game against the St. Louis Blues at the United Center on November 4, 2015 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Patrick Kane may have just signed an eight-year extension that makes him one of the highest-paid players in the NHL but the 26 year old has bigger things on his plate at the moment.

Police in Hamburg, N.Y. where Kane keeps his off season home have reported that they are investigating Kane after a woman came forward and alleged that Kane raped her last weekend.

According to the Buffalo News, who spoke with several law enforcement officials close to the investigation, the woman went to a nearby hospital where a rape kit was administered.

As of now though, Kane has yet to be officially charged with anything.

Social media places Kane at the Buffalo, N.Y., nightclub Sky Bar on August 2nd, a known hang out of Kane’s and allegedly where the woman and he met before adjourning to his lakefront property.

Both the Blackhawks organization and Kane’s agent have made statements to the press that neither confirm nor deny any allegations: “We are aware of the matter and are in the process of gathering information,” said the Blackhawks in a statement Thursday. “It would be inappropriate to comment further at this time.”

This is not the first in a string of troubled off seasons for the four-time All Star. In 2009, Kane and his cousin allegedly punched a cab driver for not having the correct change for their fare; the two pled guilty to a non criminal charge of disorderly conduct.

Three years after that incident, pictures, videos and eye witness accounts of Kane’s rowdy Cinco de Mayo party at the University of Wisconsin hit the web; Kane is described as “passed out,” “belligerent,” and even “choke[d] a girl.”

The Blackhawks star was also heard at this year’s Stanley Cup championship parade saying, “I know you’ve said I’ve been growing up, but watch out for me next week.”