Patrick Kane sends a message to playoff contenders on Sunday night.

Things haven't really gone the way that Chicago Blackhawks star forward Patrick Kane would have liked this season, with the two teams reportedly at the top of his trade list already having made their big moves ahead of the National Hockey League's upcoming trade deadline on March 3rd.

Those two teams were suspected to be the New York Rangers and the Toronto Maple Leafs, but the decision from both those teams to seemingly forgo a trade for the aforementioned Patrick Kane may have served to light a fire under the 34 year old forward.

On Sunday night, against the Toronto Maple Leafs no less, Kane sent a clear message to the Stanley Cup contenders around the league that he still has plenty left to offer a contender. Kane single-handedly kept his team in the the game against the Leafs through the first two periods of play, recording all 3 of the Blackhawks goals through the first 40 minutes of play.

Kane opened the scoring in the game with a wicked shot that beat Leafs goaltender Ilya Samsonov.

Kane outwaited Samsonov on his second goal, showing great patience before sneaking another shot past the Leafs netminder.

Kane would complete the 2 period hat trick by picking up a rebound late in the second period to send his team into the locker room with a 1 goal lead during the intermission.

I would wager that the Toronto Maple Leafs are hoping they don't have to cross paths with Kane in the Stanley Cup playoffs right about now.