Patrick Kane Admittedly Disappointed in Rangers/Tarasenko Trade
The New York Rangers acquired forward Vladimir Tarasenko and defenseman Niko Mikkola in a trade with the St. Louis Blues on Thursday with the NHL's Trade Deadline quickly approaching.
New York was also in the running for forwards Patrick Kane (CHI) and Timo Meier (SJS), according to reports, and their latest move surely takes them out of the running for both.
Kane, who has full control over if - and where - he goes in a trade, and the Rangers were always high on that list. Now, that destination appears to be off the table. For now, anyway.
The three-time Stanley Cup champion expressed disappointment upon learning of the Tarasenko trade, as he has less option to explore.
"It's not like the happiest I've been to hear about a trade. I think the Rangers are a team that you definitely pay attention to and definitely are intrigued by, for obvious reasons...If things were going to happen, that was a team I was definitely looking at. It seems like they kind of filled their void and went ahead and made a deal, so it is what it is."
A huge reason the Rangers pulled the trigger on Tarasenko instead of Kane is the belief that the 34-year old is dealing with a hip injury which could require surgery. GM Chris Drury clearly wasn't sold on Kane's health, so he went another direction.
The Blackhawks forward feels like those concerns are overblown, however.
On if his hip injury is overblown, Kane said: "Yeah, I think so. I'm not sure what the story is to be honest with you, but I feel better than I did last year. It's just one of those things that maybe the story leaks out and it piles up a little bit."
Kane then said he expects to reach a decision - should he stay or should he go - within ten days. On one hand, he said he wants to do right by the organization. On the other, the direct path forward for the franchise is not overly positive.
The team is a bottom-feeder now and likely will be for the next few years. Does Kane want to stick around for that? Nobody could really blame him if he didn't.
So what's next? Guess we have to wait and see...
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