Rangers sit Vitali Kravtsov, Jake Leschyshyn as Patrick Kane rumors swirl

There seems to be plenty of smoke in regards to the Patrick Kane-to-the-Rangers rumors, but is there any fire?

On Thursday, the Rangers scratched disgruntled forward Vitali Kravtsov and recently acquired center Jake Leschyshyn for “roster management” reasons, setting off alarms that a deal for Kane could be imminent.

On Wednesday, The Post’s Larry Brooks reported that GM Chris Drury was still very much eyeing up the Blackhawks forward — despite their acquisition of Vladimir Tarasenko on Feb. 10.

Complicating any further deals, even one for Kane, is the Rangers’ salary cap situation: According to CapFriendly, they have just over $760k available, a far cry from the $10.5 million they would need to accommodate Kane’s hit — meaning a third team would have to get involved to facilitate a deal.


 Blackhawks right wing Patrick Kane (88) waits for the face-off
The Rangers’ roster moves on Thursday reignited Patrick Kane trade rumors.
USA TODAY Sports

Kane, 34, also would have to approve a trade, something his agent, Pat Brisson, told The Athletic he has yet to do.

“Patrick hasn’t made any decision at this point,” Brisson said in a text to Pierre LeBrun.

Kane, a three-time Stanley Cup winner in Chicago, seemed disappointed when Drury acquired Tarasenko ahead of the March 3 trade deadline after a season full of rumors connecting the Buffalo-born forward to the Blueshirts.


New York Rangers right wing Vitali Kravtsov (74) skates down ice
Vitali Kravtsov was scratched Thursday.
Robert Sabo for the NY POST

“It’s not like the happiest I’ve been to hear about a trade,” Kane said. “I think the Rangers are a team that you definitely pay attention to and definitely are intrigued by, for obvious reasons.

“If things were going to happen, that was a team I was definitely looking at. It seems like they kind of filled their void and went ahead and made a deal, so it is what it is.”

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