Are We Looking at the Final Five Blackhawks Home Games for Kane and/or Toews?
Starting tonight, the Blackhawks have five home games left before the 2023 NHL Trade Deadline:
- Tonight vs. Anaheim,
- Friday night vs. Arizona,
- Feb. 19 vs Toronto,
- Feb. 21 vs Vegas, and
- March 2 vs Dallas.
That’s it.
Look, I know this isn’t exactly what you want to be reading or thinking about on a Tuesday morning in early February, but this is our new reality in Chicago. The deadline arrives at 2 PM CT on Friday, March 3, at which time we’ll know absolutely where Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews will finish their 2022-23 seasons. And, that location will give us a stronger indication of whether or not either will finish their career as a member of the Blackhawks.
The first two games on this slate, ironically, are against teams against whom the Blackhawks are competing for draft lottery balls. The Ducks and Coyotes are almost as terrible as the Blackhawks this season; for a while, the Ducks were worse. And, as of practice on Monday, it sounds like Toews is doubtful for Tuesday night’s game against Anaheim as he deals with a non-COVID illness.
After that, the Blackhawks have three teams that have been prominently linked to both Kane and Toews in trade rumors over the past month. Injuries have hit a couple teams, providing them with the cap space opportunity to make a big move. Dallas has been linked to Kane since the summer because of his relationship with Tyler Seguin and their aging roster desiring a run at another Cup Final.
Kane told the media after practice on Monday that his agent, Pat Brisson (who also reps Toews), has approached him with a few teams that are interested, but he hasn’t made a decision yet.
We don’t know at this time if/when we’ll find out the decision either makes about their no-movement clause. There’s a chance these aren’t the only five remaining games in a Blackhawks’ sweater in either of their Hall of Fame careers.
But there’s also a chance these are the last five times we’ll be able to buy tickets to see them in a home sweater at the United Center.
