Blackhawks' Kane leaves early vs. Lightning
Published
Chicago Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane left Tuesday's game against the Tampa Bay Lightning and did not return because of a lower-body injury.
After the game, head coach Luke Richardson told reporters Kane took a hit last game and is still feeling it. Richardson added Kane will be examined Tuesday night and an update is expected on Wednesday.
The four-time All-Star played 12:57 and recorded two shots on goal prior to departing as Tampa Bay went on to win 4-1.
In 37 games so far this season, the 34-year-old has seven goals and 20 assists while averaging just over 20 minutes a night.
The injury came just after TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger reported representatives for Kane and fellow pending unrestricted free agent Jonathan Toews would be meeting with the Blackhawks soon to discuss the future of the two franchise icons ahead of the March 3 trade deadline.
"This is more about Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews (than the Blackhawks)," Dreger said on Insider Trading. "These guys drive the bus in terms of trade and what I know is that [the agent who represents] both of those players is going to engage with serious conversation on Kane and Toews in the very near future.
"The three things that they've got determined: No. 1, do they want to be traded? I mean, that pretty much starts it and ends it. No. 2, what does the contending field look like? They might need a little bit more time to figure that out in terms of the standings. And then No. 3, is it best to just accept a trade and then look at the open market as free agents in the summer or is a trade and sign a possibility? Those are the three options that Kane and Toews have to work through."
Both Kane and Toews carry identical $10.5 million cap hits on their expiring eight-year deals.
After their loss to the Lightning, the Blackhawks will be back Friday night at home against the Arizona Coyotes.