The Trade: On Feb. 28, Chicago shipped Patrick Kane and minor league defenseman Cooper Zech to the New York Rangers in a three-team deal involving the Arizona Coyotes to spread Kane's $10.5 million salary-cap hit among those clubs.
The Rangers sent a conditional 2023 second-round pick, a 2025 fourth-rounder and minor league defenseman Andy Welinski to Chicago, who retained half of Kane's cap hit.
Meanwhile, the Coyotes sent defenseman Vili Saarijärvi to the Blackhawks and received a conditional 2025 third-rounder from the Rangers for retaining $2.65 million of Kane's remaining cap hit.
Initial Reaction: For a player of Kane's stature, we were surprised that Chicago didn't get a better return. It was the best they could get since he couldn't pass up the opportunity to join the Rangers.
Initial Grades: Rangers: A, Blackhawks: C, Coyotes: D
The Aftermath: Kane had 12 points in 19 regular-season games with the Rangers along with six points in seven postseason contests. However, he was hampered by a nagging hip injury requiring a resurfacing procedure in June. Signed to a one-year, $2.8 million contract this season with the Detroit Red Wings, he has 14 points in 15 games.
Current Grades: Rangers: B+, Blackhawks: C, Coyotes: D
