The trade deadline is just about a month away, and all eyes are on the rebuilding Chicago Blackhawks because of it. After announcing the start of their full-on rebuild last season, the Blackhawks currently have a 15-29-4 record and only the Columbus Blue Jackets have fewer points. As a result, they are going to be clear sellers at the deadline, and they have several players who could be dealt like Jonathan Toews, Max Domi, and Jake McCabe. Yet, they have no bigger trade target than franchise legend Patrick Kane.

Although Kane has had a bit of a down year for his standards (nine goals and 34 points in 45 games), there’s no question that a major reason behind it is the Blackhawks’ weaker roster. It appears that contenders are well-aware of this, as The Fourth Period has reported that there are currently seven teams in the Kane sweepstakes. Let’s discuss them now.

Kane Heading East?

Out of the seven teams currently linked to Kane, four of them are in the Eastern Conference. The Boston Bruins, New York Islanders, New York Rangers, and Toronto Maple Leafs all want to acquire the star forward.

Even after a three-game losing streak, the Bruins still have a 38-7-5 record and are nine points ahead of the second-place Carolina Hurricanes. Due to this, they are expected to go all-in at the deadline and could very well bring in a star like Kane. He would provide them with another quality weapon in their top six and could be utilized on the top line with Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand if acquired.

The Islanders’ lack of scoring is hurting them immensely this season. Although they have a 25-22-5 record and are still in the playoff race, they have won just three out of their last 10 games. This is not going to help their playoff chances, so bringing in a star winger like Kane could be exactly what provides them with the spark to pass teams like the Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals.

Kane has been linked to the Rangers all season, as many hockey fans want to see him reunited with fellow star winger Artemi Panarin. However, it is also clear that there is a fit here because the Rangers’ top six could surely use a major boost. Although Jimmy Vesey has had a strong season with the Rangers this year, there is no question that Kane would be a significant upgrade over him on the first line with Panarin and Mika Zibanejad.