Patrick Kane is expected to sign as a free agent by Thanksgiving but The Post has been told that No. 88 will not be returning for a Broadway encore.
The Rangers, according to well-placed industry sources, have never been in the mix for the right wing who will turn 35 on Sunday and has been skating on his own in Toronto for approximately the last six weeks after undergoing hip resurfacing surgery on June 1.
The Maple Leafs, Panthers, Sabres, Red Wings, Stars and Lightning are believed among interested parties who will meet with Kane over the next week. It is unknown whether the winger is seeking a multiyear deal or is alternatively looking for a one-year reset for a modest fee.
Kane, of course, was acquired by the Blueshirts at the March 1 deadline after management went through extended and exhaustive cap cost-cutting measures in order to obtain the winger, who made it clear that he would waive his no-move clause only to come to New York and a reunion with one-time Blackhawk linemate Artemi Panarin.
But dealing with obvious physical limitations that were well known to the Rangers before pulling the trade in which a 2023 second- and fourth-round draft pick went to Chicago, Kane just was not his explosive self.
Kane and Panarin were unable to recreate their remarkable chemistry after nearly six full seasons apart. The man known as Showtime recorded five goals and seven assists in 19 games before posting one goal and five assists in the seven-game first-round defeat to the Devils. His six postseason points were third on the team behind Chris Kreider (6-3-9) and Adam Fox (0-8-8).
The Buffalo native’s finest outing as a Blueshirt came in Game 2 of the series in New Jersey when he recorded a goal and two assists in his team’s 5-1 victory that gave the Rangers a 2-0 series lead.
Kane was a known risk the Rangers’ hierarchy was willing to take. There is a risk-reward equation now as one of the greatest American-born players in history is attempting to return from a surgical procedure performed only three times previously on NHL players with discouraging results of varying degree.
Washington center Nicklas Backstrom has taken a leave of absence from his team after struggling in the aftermath of his hip resurfacing over the summer of 2022.
Backstrom missed the first three-plus months last season before recording 21 points (7-14) in 39 games. The 35-year-old Swede posted only one point — an assist — in eight games this season before stepping away.
Florida defenseman Ed Jovanovski and Vancouver center Ryan Kesler previously underwent the surgery. Jovanovski played only 37 more games after a rehab that lasted a full season. Kesler never played again.
This, of course, does not mean that Kane’s prospects are doomed or not worth the risk. There was grave skepticism over the wisdom of trading for Jack Eichel after the then-Buffalo center underwent an unprecedented form of neck surgery. The Golden Knights likely did not regret trading for the center after watching him skate the victory lap with the Cup in June.
Kane, who has recorded 1,237 points (451-786) in 1,180 NHL games, might be able to make a similarly inspirational and productive return to the ice.
But it will not be with the Rangers.