Rangers acquire Kane; Oilers deal for Ekholm

The Blackhawks agreed to trade winger Patrick Kane to the Rangers, according to reports Tuesday.

The Rangers will send the Blackhawks a conditional 2023 second-round draft pick, which would become a 2024 or ’25 firstrounder if the Rangers make the Eastern Conference finals, and a 2023 fourth-rounder.

The Blackhawks will retain 50% of Kane’s $10.5 million contract, and the Coyotes will take on 50% of that portion.

The Coyotes will get a 2025 third-round pick from the Rangers for participating in the deal.

The 34-year-old Kane, a three-time Stanley Cup champ who was No. 1 overall by the Blackhawks in 2007, is in the final year of an eight-year contract that has a no-movement clause. The Rangers were his preferred destination.

In other moves Tuesday, the Hurricanes got winger Jesse Puljujarvi from the Oilers, who were also active in adding Mattias Ekholm from the Predators. The Maple Leafs acquired big defenseman Luke Schenn from the Canucks, sent Rasmus Sandin to the Capitals for a first-round pick and veteran Erik Gustafsson and traded forward Pierre Engvall to the Islanders.

NBA: Kevin Durant is expected to make his Suns debut Wednesday on the road against the Hornets. The 34-yearold 13-time All-Star was acquired by the Suns on Feb. 9 in a trade that sent Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Jae Crowder and four first-round picks to the Nets. Durant hasn’t played for the Suns while recovering from a sprained knee ligament. Durant was averaging 29.7 points, 6.7 rebounds and 5.3 assists before suffering the injury Jan. 8.

NFL: The Buccaneers will release RB Leonard Fournette, according to reports. Fournette, 28, a key contributor to the team’s Super Bowl victory at the end of the 2020 season, asked for his release. Fournette ran for 668 yards and three TDs last season.