There was a lot of excitement when the New York Rangers first acquired forward Patrick Kane from the Chicago Blackhawks at the 2023 NHL trade deadline.
In Kane, 35, the Rangers were bringing in someone who won three Stanley Cups, had a lot of chemistry with Artemi Panarin, and could bring a lot of excitement to the fans. Kane is known as “showtime” and everyone in and around the Rangers figured it was time for “showtime” to shine on Broadway.
Unfortunately, that did not end up happening. In 19 games with the Blueshirts, Kane had just 12 points (five goals and seven assists) and in the playoffs, he had six points (one goal and five assists) in seven games.
Now, it should be noted that Kane was not 100 percent healthy. A nagging hip injury greatly impacted his performance in his Rangers’ tenure and the team never got to experience the “true” Kane.
Fast forward to now and it looks like the Rangers are interested in bringing back Kane, who is now an unrestricted free agent (UFA). On Thursday, June 27, Larry Brooks of the New York Post reported that the Blueshirts are very interested in a reunion with Kane.
There would be a few positives if this so-called reunion were to happen. For starters, Kane is healthy.
After undergoing a hip-surfacing procedure after the Rangers were knocked out of the playoffs by the New Jersey Devils in 2023, Kane signed with the Detroit Red Wings in December and went on to have a productive season. He finished the year with 47 points (20 goals and 27 assists) in 50 games and looked a bit like the player he used to be.
If Kane were to return to Broadway, he and the Rangers would also have an opportunity to change the narrative of what happened two seasons ago. The Rangers could sign him and Kane could end up having a great season by being a productive and consistent forward while also being a key contributor in the team’s quest for their first Cup since 1994.
With that said, the team could sign him and he could end up being terrible again. Remember, Kane is not a spring chicken anymore and his best years are well behind him.
This puts us right in the middle. On one hand, signing Kane could end up paying huge dividends considering he is healthy and wants to make things right with the Rangers after things did not go well the first time around.
On the other hand, signing Kane could end up backfiring. He could end up looking every bit like his age and not be of any benefit to the team’s offense.
What do you Rangers fans out there think? Is Kane worth bringing back or should the team stay away at all costs?
