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Patrick Kane Reportedly Has Maple Leafs on His Go-To Trade List

According to one source, Patrick Kane has listed the Toronto Maple Leafs as a team he’s willing to accept a trade to.

According to former NHL player and current RSN 1050 broadcaster Carlo Colaiacovo, Patrick Kane has only two teams on his list for which he’s willing to accept a trade before this season’s NHL Trade Deadline: the New York Rangers and Toronto Maple Leafs.

The Rangers won’t come as a surprise, especially when you factor in Kane’s comments after the Rangers added Vladimir Tarasenko. Kane was disappointed the Rangers went that direction because he found the idea of potentially joining the Rangers intriguing. When he heard about the deal, he noted to NBC Sports Chicago, “It’s not like the happiest I’ve been to hear about a trade.” He added, “I think the Rangers are a team that you definitely pay attention to and definitely are intrigued by, for obvious reasons.”

As for the Maple Leafs, this might come as a bit of a surprise.

First, there were mixed reports about whether Toronto would have been on his radar. So too, there hasn’t been much chatter connecting the Maple Leafs to any real interest in Kane. While the idea of Auston Matthews and Kane on the same line sounds intriguing, this might not be the best fit, for a number of reasons.

Patrick Kane reportedly has the Toronto Maple Leafs listed as a team he’d be willing to go to in trade.

Does Toronto need more skill on offense? Can Kane keep up with the speed game the Maple Leafs like to play? Can the Maple Leafs even come close to affording half of Kane’s $10.5 million salary and address the right needs heading into the playoffs? Colaiacovo said in a recent episode of First Up that his sources have told him it’s down to these two teams but that doesn’t mean the Maple Leafs would move heaven and earth to make this deal a reality. Not only that, but Kane is a pure rental. There would be hesitation on the part of Kyle Dubas to spend major assets or get a third team involved for a player the team can’t afford to sign over the summer.

The Maple Leafs have been linked to a number of names heading into this season’s trade deadline, but Kane hasn’t been among them. The salary cap gymnastics that would need to take place, the assets going the other way, and the potential lack of interest from a Toronto perspective might make Kane’s desire to go there (if true) a moot point.

Toronto has just $296,666 in salary cap space, according to CapFriendly. This idea sounds fun, but it doesn’t seem all that realistic.

Next: Are the Flames Thinking About Trading MacKenzie Weegar?

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  1. Pingback: Killers Will Not Purchase Profession Target Date, Might Come To Be Huge Vendors | Gems Hockey

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