RANGERS, BLACKHAWKS WORKING ON KANE TRADE

TORONTO, ON — The Chicago Blackhawks and New York Rangers are fully engaged in trade discussions involving superstar Patrick Kane and a move is expected to be made before next Friday’s trade deadline.

Speculation ran wild Thursday night after the Rangers announced that forwards Vitali Kravtsov and Jake Leschyshyn were being held out of the lineup because of “roster management reasons.”

As of last night, neither Kravtsov nor his agent were told a trade was imminent, but the writing is certainly on the wall. The Rangers are trying to move him, either as part of a Kane package or to another club – the Montreal Canadiens are believed to have interest.

As the trade chatter began to talk on a life of its own, many around the NHL told me they believe the Blackhawks and Rangers have the parameters of a trade in place that would send Kane to the Big Apple, but Rangers GM Chris Drury still need to create salary cap space and a third team is needed to get to the finish line.

The Minnesota Wild, who retained salary in both the Ryan O’Reilly trade and Thursday’s Dmitry Orlov trade, are willing to use their final retention spot – teams can only retain salary on three players per season – in another move. There was talk, prior to the Orlov move, that the Wild were in the mix here, as well.

In addition to the Wild, the Canadiens, Vancouver Canucks, Anaheim Ducks and Arizona Coyotes are among the teams willing to eat salary if compensated to do so.

Kane’s agent, Pat Brisson, has declined to comment or provide an update on the situation after telling TFP Thursday no decisions have been made.

In order for the Rangers to stomach a $2.625 million cap hit, the Blackhawks and a third team would have to eat a combined 75 percent of Kane’s deal – $7.875 million.

According to our friends at CapFriendly, the Rangers have just over $778,000 in current cap space and that figure will increase to just over $908,000 by the deadline. Dealing Kravtsov will free up an additional $875,000. Moving out Leschyshyn would create an extra $766,667 in space. Another move might still be needed to take on Kane at 25 percent of his $10.5 million cap hit.

For argument’s sake, if the Blackhawks retain 50 percent of Kane’s deal ($5.25 million), a third party would be responsible for $2.625 million on their cap. But in actual dollars, prorated to this point in season, which is roughly 70 percent completed, it comes down to around $217,000 in actual money. Kane was paid out a $4 million bonus in the summer and is making $2.9 million in salary over the span the entire season. Financially, the hit isn’t that bad if you are acquiring a decent draft pick.

The only way Kane to New York works is with another team entering the mix. The Rangers are trying to make that happen.

GAVRIKOV CAUGHT OFF GUARD

When the Boston Bruins shifted gears and acquired Dmitry Orlov and Garnet Hathaway from the Washington Capitals on Thursday, Vladislav Gavrikov and his agent were not pleasantly surprised, according to a source close to the situation.

The Bruins and Columbus Blue Jackets had the framework of a trade in place, as I reported earlier this week, but Boston needed to move out money to make it work. That led me to believe Craig Smith, who went to Washington, was not a player the Blue Jackets had interest in acquiring even though he’s on an expiring contract.

Now, Columbus must shift gears. Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen will try to maximize a return after keeping Gavrikov out of the lineup and off the trade market. Edmonton, Los Angeles, Toronto, Calgary and Winnipeg were all interested in Gavrikov prior to the Boston arrangement/debacle, but most weren’t willing to part with a first-round draft pick. Edmonton certainly wasn’t. Does that change?

Gavrikov’s camp certainly want a resolution to come as quickly as possible. We’ll see who steps up as Plan B.

ALL CAPS ON DECK

After moving out Orlov and Hathaway and then losing 4-2 to the Anaheim Ducks, the Capitals have seen better days.

Sitting on the outside of the playoff picture, the Caps might end up moving out more pieces before the March 3 trade deadline arrives and word out of that dressing room is everyone’s waiting to see what happens next.

Forwards Lars Eller, Conor Sheary, Marcus Johansson and Nic Aube-Kubel, and defencemen Nick Jensen, Trevor van Riemsdyk and Erik Gustafsson are all on expiring contracts and could be moved out. There have been contract talks with some players, I wonder if things change now that one trade has been made.

Orlov, by the way, had asked for a six-year contract extension from the Capitals. Washington countered with a three-year deal. Obviously, that didn’t get it done.

This time of year can weigh on a player’s mind, but it’s a little tougher for someone like Sheary, whose wife is pregnant and due soon – similar to Luke Schenn, whose wife is approaching her due date as they wait for the Vancouver Canucks to find them a new home.

Capitals GM Brian MacLellan signaled his pathway Thursday. There’s surely more to come.

TIP-INS

• The Detroit Red Wings still want to move Jakub Vrana.

• As we wait on a Jakob Chychrun trade to take place, there’s talk the Arizona Coyotes have received interest in centre Nick Schmaltz.

• On Monday, I reported the NHL Global Series is returning to Europe next season with regular-season games. While I don’t know the two teams going to Sweden, it sounds like we’ll have games back in Stockholm. See you there!

• Reiterating a report from earlier in the week: Chicago wants to trade Jake McCabe and there’s strong belief in the room he will be moved. Obviously, it comes down to GM Kyle Davidson finding the right deal, but he’s trying.

• Speaking of ‘in the room,’ talk in Philly suggests a few moves could go down over the next seven days. James van Riemdsyk. Justin Braun. Who else?

• I’ll be part of NHL Network’s trade deadline coverage on March 3. Be sure to tune in from 2pm-7pm ET.