Joined: May 2022
Posts: 101
Likes: 69
From what I've heard, yes, Kane likes Chicago, and it appears he wants to stay if possible. I can see multiple reasons why he might want to stay:
1: He has a son with his girlfriend, who is a designer from Chicago, and I think works there. He may not want to uproot his family if at all possible.
2: The Blackhawks have stood by him during his younger troubles (Cabby incident, the sexual assault allegations), and that could mean something to him. Ie, he's loyal to the organization.
3: Kane has his cups and is interested in getting his name as part of history by taking over many of Mikita's records.
4: He likes Chicago a lot and just doesn't want to leave the city.
5: Though it's not close, it's still within a driveable distance to Buffalo so he's accessible for his parents and sister.
Again, those are just my guesses. Could be some of those are true, could be none of them. Maybe Kane just doesn't like change or hates moving and wants to avoid it if possible.
That being said, if Kane does decide he wants out, and is willing to waive his NMC, it's likely the asking price for him is similar to what a team would ask for for an Ovi, or Crosby etc. Those three are all different players, but some of the best at what they do. I would expect a deal would look more like: two firsts, a prospect, and/or rostered player depending on the values of the players involved. The Blackhawks would also likely retain salary (because they easily can for the next year), which would increase the value of the trade, likely by another 1st or 2nd, depending on the structure of the deal. Again, those picks could get downgraded, but it would likely require a top-line forward coming back in the trade.