Sitting at No. 6 on our February Trade Block Big Board, Patrick Kane has been a fixture in this season’s NHL rumor mill. Most of that speculation linked the 34-year-old Chicago Blackhawks star to the New York Rangers, who lacked a skilled, experienced scoring right winger.

The Rangers, however, acquired Vladimir Tarasenko last week from the St. Louis Blues. Kane was displeased by the move. “It’s not like the happiest I’ve been to hear about a trade,” he told reporters the following day. “The Rangers I definitely pay attention to [and am] intrigued by, for obvious reasons.”

Those obvious reasons, of course, encompass whatever playoff contenders are interested in acquiring Kane. The long-time Chicago star is slated to become an unrestricted free agent July 1. He carries an average annual value of $10.5 million plus a full no-movement clause, giving him complete control over his preferred trade destinations.

Kane hasn’t tipped his hand on whether he’ll agree to be traded or which clubs interest him, though he also confirmed the Rangers were among the teams he’d hoped to go to if he were moved before the March 3 trade deadline.

ESPN’s Emily Kaplan (h/t NBC Sports Chicago’s Charlie Roumeliotis) reported the Rangers were concerned over Kane’s nagging lower-body injury. However, the winger has repeatedly downplayed the issue, saying he feels better this season than in 2021-22 when he tallied 92 points in 78 games.

Kane’s production is down this season with 35 points in 50 games, which could be due to Chicago’s depleted roster. On a deeper team, the former Art Ross Trophy winner could regain his high-scoring ways.

On Nov. 15, B/R’s Adam Gretz listed five teams that could assemble the best trade packages to land Kane. With the Rangers off the table, here’s our look at five updated landing spots for the Chicago right winger.

Carolina Hurricanes

The indefinite loss of Max Pacioretty to a torn Achilles leaves the Carolina Hurricanes in need of an experienced scoring winger. With Pacioretty on long-term injured reserve, the Hurricanes have $10.1 million in projected trade-deadline cap space to pursue a winger or a second-line center.

Kane would be a good fit at right wing for the Hurricanes. He’s a proven postseason performer with three Stanley Cups as well as the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP in 2013. In 136 career playoff games, he’s tallied 52 goals and 80 assists for 132 points.

That experience plus his leadership skills as an alternate captain in Chicago could be just what the Hurricanes need to stage a serious run for the Stanley Cup this spring. They can afford to take on the remainder of his $10.5 million cap hit, though they could get Chicago to retain up to half of it for the right offer.

Chicago general manager Kyle Davidson is rebuilding his club. He’ll likely seek a first-round pick and a high-quality prospect, such as defenseman Scott Morrow or center Jack Drury as part of the return. He could also look at a young roster player such as Jesperi Kotkaniemi being included in the deal.

Colorado Avalanche

A lack of a reliable second-line center had the Colorado Avalanche linked to Chicago’s Jonathan Toews and Montreal’s Sean Monahan in our February NHL Trade Block Big Board. On Dec. 6, B/R’s Joe Yerdon included the Avalanche among the speculative destinations for St. Louis Blues center Ryan O’Reilly.

If the Avalanche can’t find that second-line center, perhaps they’ll look at bolstering their scoring punch by adding Kane at right wing. On Nov. 27, The Athletic’s Mark Lazerus imagined Kane would love to skate alongside Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon. That combination could help the Avalanche repeat as Stanley Cup champions.

Finding sufficient salary-cap space could be difficult for the Avalanche if sidelined captain Gabriel Landeskog (knee) returns before the end of this season. If he’s out until the playoffs, however, they’ll have $6.5 million in projected cap space. Like every club on this list, they could ask Chicago to retain a portion of Kane’s cap hit for the right price.

With no second- or third-round picks in 2023 and 2024, the Avs could be reluctant to part with their first-rounders in those drafts. Perhaps they could offer their 2024 pick on the condition that it could slide to 2025, depending on where they finish in the standings. The Avs will likely also have to give up a prospect or two, such as Sean Behrens or Jean-Luc Foudy.