When asked which team would be the best choice for him, Kane said Monday, "I don't know. It's tough to decide if we're getting to that point yet, so I think there are definitely opportunities out there that are intriguing and could be exciting. We'll see."
The 34-year-old forward has played his entire 16-season NHL career for the Blackhawks.
"We talked about it in the summer with Pat (Brisson, his agent)," Kane said. "We'll just probably be taking it up to the deadline and making a decision. I mean, he's told me a few that have reached out to him. So yeah, we'll probably talk about that possibly too, if that's an option of getting traded and obviously figure out a team that could be the best fit. But we're not really at that point either."
The Blackhawks (15-29-5) are rebuilding and last in the Central Division with 35 points, one ahead of the Columbus Blue Jackets for fewest in the NHL.
Kane and center Jonathan Toews, who helped Chicago win the Stanley Cup in 2010, 2013 and 2015, are each in the final season of an eight-year contract signed July 9, 2014. Each also has a full no-move clause, and Toews has been captain since July 18, 2008.
Kane has 35 points (nine goals, 26 assists), tied for first on the Blackhawks behind Max Domi (35 points; 14 goals, 21 assists). His 1,215 points (439 goals, 776 assists) are second in Blackhawks history to Stan Mikita (1,467).
Toews has missed two days with a non-COVID related illness and will likely not play against the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday (8:30 p.m. ET; NBCSCH, BSSC, ESPN+, SN NOW). He's third for Chicago with 28 points (14 goals, 14 assists) and sixth in team history with 880 (371 goals, 509 assists).
Blackhawks executive officer Danny Wirtz said Monday that he's in constant contact with general manager Kyle Davidson regarding any possible trade movement but didn't want to speculate on what could happen with Kane and/or Toews.
"By no means, I can't stress enough, Kane and Toews, what they mean to our family, the organization, the city," Wirtz said. "No matter what happens, from this day on, I think we can all agree they will be cemented in Blackhawks history. They're going to be in the (Hockey) Hall of Fame. They're tremendously important.
"The hard part of these things is, it's sort of a decision we have to make at this stage of their career. But we're going to let that play out as it needs to from the players' perspective, the agent and obviously Kyle all working together, in constant contact to do what's right for the players and do what's right for the organization."
