Are Florida Panthers the front-runner for Patrick Kane?

On today’s segment of Ice Breakers, Frank Seravalli discusses the timeline of return for Patrick Kane and how the Florida Panthers could be the front-runners for the veteran chasing a fourth career Stanley Cup.

Colby Cohen: What’s the latest on Patrick Kane? 

Frank Seravalli: That’s a good question, I don’t have a firm answer but what I can tell you is the timeline. It certainly seems like by the end of this week just after U.S. Thanksgiving we will have an answer from Kane. 

He has wrapped up his training in Toronto and the rehab is over, he is ready to go. I am told his lateral movement is exceptional from those who have seen him, he appears to be fully healthy after that hip surgery. 

Here’s the thing, the teams I have spoken to in the last 24-48 hours, none of them have got the sense or been told they’re out yet, so nobody is out of the mix just yet. Some of the teams that he has met with and or talked with include the Detroit Red Wings, Buffalo Sabres, Dallas Stars, Tampa Bay Lightning, Florida Panthers and the Toronto Maple Leafs, among others. I know he met with the Leafs last Monday in Toronto before they flew to Sweden. I think the Leafs are on the outside, Detroit there’s been sort of interest in terms of can he can link up with Alex DeBrincat again. Not sure you want to break up that line so that hangs in the balance. Will he go to Buffalo? Help them and their playoff drought.

What I can tell you, is a lot of teams are wondering if the Florida Panthers are the front runners for Kane’s services. You see the start they’re off to, they very well, of that group (could) be the best chance for Kane to chase a fourth Stanley Cup this season. You see how dynamic their offense has been, carrying that team without their two top defensemen in Brandon Montour and Aaron Ekblad, both now coming back. You can see this Panthers team take off and there seems to be some thought that the Panthers could be a multi-year destination. Kane may not have to sign for just one year, it could be a multi-year deal, or the potential of that down the line with their cap space clearing up. He would be a very interesting fit in South Florida.