It's no secret that this postseason is going to be a big one for the Leafs after six consecutive first round exits in the Marner/Matthews era. There are plenty of jobs on the line this season, including those of Kyle Dubas and President Brendan Shanahan, so I think we can probably expect a major move at/ahead of this year's deadline.
To that effect, The Fourth Period's David Pagnotta has reported that the Leafs are among six teams who have reportedly reached out to the Chicago Blackhawks to express interest in 3-time Stanley Cup winner Patrick Kane.
Kane is an absolute difference-maker, any way you slice it. He's a guy who has not only been in the deep waters in the playoffs, but he has also thrived in the postseason, winning a a trio of Cups as well as a Conn Smythe Trophy (2013), awarded each year to the MVP of the Playoffs.
Make no mistake about it - Kane can sway a series. However, there is going to be a steep cost associated with acquiring a player of Kane's stature. One can imagine that the Leafs will have to kiss their 2023 1st round pick goodbye in any deal involving Kane, even though he is a pending UFA. They'll likely also have to give up a top prospect and potentially even an additional high pick or quality prospect.
The Leafs' window to win is wide open and Kane certainly gets them closer to that goal. In the end, though, the cost to acquire the 34-year-old could end up being a detriment to the long-term success of the team if they fall short of the ultimate goal.
However, it is worth noting that Kane has a full NMC, so if the Buffalo, NY native wishes to declare the Leafs as the only team he'll accept a trade to, it could severely limit the return for Chicago. Having said that, I'm sure there are multiple locations that might appeal to Kane and so we're likely looking at a bit of a bidding war if Toronto is one of those locations.
