Photo: THN

The New York Rangers acquired left-wing Patrick Kane and defenseman Cooper Zech from the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday night in exchange for defenseman Andy Welinski in addition conditional 2023 second- and fourth-round picks. The 34-year-old can become an unrestricted free agent after this season.

Patrick Kane, traded to NYR, is a veteran playmaking winger. His offence is underrated by public xGoal models due to his elite cross-slot passing, although admittedly that has taken a big hit this year. Has been probably the worst defensive forward in the NHL. #NYR pic.twitter.com/R6GzD8RHNZ

— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) February 28, 2023

Chicago retained 50% ($5.25 million) of Kane’s $10.5 million cap hit while the Arizona Coyotes ate 25% ($2.125 million). Arizona acquired a 2025 third-round pick from New York and defenseman Vili Saarijarvi from Chicago.

The 2023 second-round pick will become either a 2024 or 2025 first if New York wins at least two rounds in the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs. If the pick will be in 2024, it is top-10 protected and will slide to 2025 if it is in the top-10.

Kane ranks second on Chicago in goals (16), assists (29), and points (45) while averaging a team-leading 3:37 on the power play this season.

The 2010, 2013, and 2015 Stanley Cup Champion has finished with at least 25 goals in a season 11 times in his 16-year NHL career and has never finished a non-shortened campaign with fewer than 64 points. Kane has even hit the 40-goal mark (44 in 2018-19, 46 in 2015-16) and 100-point plateau (106 in 2015-16, 110 in 2018-19) twice, respectively.

New York, who acquired left-wing Vladimir Tarasenko from the St. Louis Blues earlier this month, ranks 11th in the NHL with both an average of 3.3 goals-per-game and 22.7% power-play efficiency. The addition of Kane should provide a further boost in both areas.

In 1,161 career regular-season games, Kane has 446 goals and 1225 points. In 136 career postseason outings, he has earned 52 goals and 132 points.

Kane won the Art Ross (NHL’s scoring champion), Ted Lindsay (MVP voted by the players), and Hart (MVP) Trophies in 2015-16. He also won the Conn Smythe Trophy as MVP of the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

New York was able to acquire Kane at a discounted price because they were the only team that he was willing to waive his no-movement clause for.

The New Jersey Devils, who lead New York by five points with a game in hand, acquired left-wing Timo Meier from the San Jose Sharks on Sunday.

Kane reunites with former linemate and right-wing Artemi Panarin, whom he played with during Panarin’s first two seasons in Chicago from 2015-17 before he was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Breaking: It’s Showtime.

Sources tell @DailyFaceoff: #NYR expected to acquire Patrick Kane for 2023 2nd Rd Pick (can become a 1st) and a 4th Rd Pick. #NYR and #Blackhawks plan to conduct 3-team trade call tonight.

Possible Kane makes #NYR debut Wed in Philadelphia vs. #Flyers. pic.twitter.com/GsNeQlk48E

— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) February 28, 2023

By Harrison Brown