Patrick Kane reveals 2 former teammates he wants to play with again.

Although we are very likely still several months away from seeing a trade involving Chicago Blackhawks superstar forward Patrick Kane, assuming of course that we see one at all, there's no question that there is a growing sense of anticipation around the rumored move.

There has been plenty of speculation about where Kane could end up in the event of such a blockbuster trade but the reality is that regardless of what the Chicago Blackhawks may want, and regardless of what rival teams who desire Kane as a player may want, at the end of the day the only thing that will matter is what Kane himself desires. The Blackhawks star is protected by a full no movement clause and as a result will get to dictate where he goes in the event of a trade, and that's why some of the comments he made this week were so interesting.

One of the teams that has been considered to be among the frontrunners in the Patrick Kane sweepstakes is the New York Rangers, and this week Kane was asked how he would feel about a reunion with former teammate Artemi Panarin. To no one's surprise Kane admitted that he would welcome such a reunion with his close friend, but also dropped another name in there as well.

“I mean, obviously, it’d be fun to play with Panarin again," said Kane as per Scott Powers. "It’d be fun to play with (Alex) DeBrincat again.”

By the time the National Hockey League's trade deadline rolls around in March both Artemi Panarin's New York Rangers and Alex DeBrincat's Ottawa Senators will have accrued enough cap space to accommodate a trade that would allow them to take on Kane's contract, likely at a 50% reduced cost with the Blackhawks retaining salary. That means that in both these cases the reunion is possible, it's seemingly just a matter of whether or not Kane wants to make it happen as I doubt any team in the NHL would say 'no' when asked if they were interested in Patrick Kane.

For what it's worth it sounds like his former teammates don't plan on putting any pressure on the Blackhawks star.

“He’s a grown-up guy, he can make the decisions,” Panarin said. “I wish him to make the right decision for himself, his family. Can’t say much else.”