Insider Drops Bombshell on Patrick Kane's Next Team

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Tom Banks
October 9, 2023 (9:34)

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The NHL's summer of 2023 was a wild one, but it appears even with the season about to begin, there's still plenty of speculation surrounding trades and current free agents.

Three-time Cup Champion

While there's other veterans like Phil Kessel still available, it's the status of Patrick Kane that could determine the landscape of the NHL in 2023-24, even after off-season surgery.

Kane didn't look like himself with the Rangers, despite posting 12 points in 19 regular season games, and if he's healthy, he can certainly be a difference maker for many contenders this season.

A bombshell

Many fans, analysts and insiders have Kane tabbed to land in Buffalo, New York, Edmonton or Colorado, but now, top insider Pierre LeBrun has thrown a spanner in the works, predicting that Kane will end up with the 2022-23 Eastern Conference Champions.

Going to his hometown Sabres makes a lot of sense, but my prediction is that Patrick Kane ends up with the Panthers.

One would think Florida would be more worried about its blue line, my sense is that the Panthers feel they can hang in until Aaron Ekblad and Brandon Montour return. Panthers general manager Bill Zito had Kane at a world hockey championship, where Zito made him captain.

Can you imagine Kane playing on a line with Aleksander Barkov? I certainly can.

The key for Florida is not to lose too much ground early in the season. The plan for Kane and agent Pat Brisson is to look at the landscape one month into the season and start making a shortlist. The Panthers must stay in it to make that list.

According to LeBrun, the idea of playing Kane alongside Barkov would be an attractive one for the former Blackhawk, but with so much to consider, the first month of the season could be the ultimate deciding factor in his decision.

As Read on The Athletic - An all-Canada Stanley Cup? 80 points for Connor Bedard? Patrick Kane in Florida? LeBrun's NHL predictions