Bruins Could Be Targeting Blackhawks’ Patrick Kane

The Boston Bruins are not only playing well, but with a 16-2-0 record, they sit atop the NHL standings, two points ahead of the New Jersey Devils who have won 12-straight games. Considering both teams are in the Eastern Conference, they’ll need to go through each other if each team stays hot. As such, it would be expected that both might look to be serious buyers at this year’s NHL Trade Deadline, with one report suggesting the Bruins already know who they’ll be targeting.

Boston Hockey Now’s Jimmy Murphy cited an NHL executive who believed the Bruins will be making a pitch for Patrick Kane of the Chicago Blackhawks. It’s not a given that Kane will be available, nor that he’ll choose to waive his no-trade and no-move clause to join the Bruins, but if the Blackhawks do make him available prior to this year’s NHL Trade Deadline, Boston is going to make a pitch. That NHL executive notes that the Bruins are all-in to try and win the Stanley Cup this season. They see their window as one that won’t be open forever and they’re especially keen to try and make the most out of a season where captain Patrice Bergeron chose to return to the club for one more run. Bergeron signed a one-year, $2.5 million contract this offseason and it’s not clear if he’ll sign again, regardless of where the Bruins finish the year.

Kane is going to be among the most coveted trade assets if he decides to move on from Chicago. The Blackhawks are rebuilding and even though they’d gotten off to a solid start, four losses in a row have reminded everyone that this is not a team expected to make the playoffs.

Can The Bruins Pull This Off?

There are salary complications that come with the Bruins chasing a player with a $10.5 million cap hit. The Blackhawks might choose to retain 50% of Kane’s salary, but another team might need to retain 50% more and that means giving up numerous assets, not just to acquire the player but to entice teams to help the Bruins to make it work.

All the while, other clubs will be making their own respective pitches for Kane.

Next: Senators and Canucks Talked Trading Blueliners: Myers for Zaitsev

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