Rangers reportedly still in pursuit of Blackhawks' Patrick Kane

After acquiring Vladimir Tarasenko in a trade with the St. Louis Blues earlier this month, many believed the New York Rangers would be out of any sweepstakes involving Chicago Blackhawks star Patrick Kane. 

However, according to Larry Brooks of the New York Post, the Rangers have not given up on possibly snagging Kane before the NHL trade deadline on March 3. 

"The Rangers have signaled they will try to make it work if Kane — who has yet to declare his intentions — is willing to waive his no-move clause in order to come to New York," Brooks wrote. 

Per Brooks, the Rangers' acquisition of Tarasenko won't be a stumbling block in going after Kane, but orchestrating a trade might prove difficult but not impossible. 

For salary-cap purposes, a third team would likely need to be involved for the Rangers to pull it off. Per PuckPedia, the Rangers must find a team willing to retain 25 percent of Kane's deal, as by the trade deadline, there will be only $658K left to pay. 

ESPN's Emily Kaplan says Kane has asked the Blackhawks to "explore" the possibility of a trade to the Rangers again. Kaplan notes that the Carolina Hurricanes and Dallas Stars are interested in Kane, while the Vegas Golden Knights and Edmonton Oilers could also have him on their radar. 

Kane's contract includes a no-trade clause, so the 34-year-old must approve a deal before the Blackhawks can pull the trigger. However, Kane seems to have an affinity for New York. Following the Rangers' pickup of Tarasenko, Kane was openly disappointed, saying it wasn't the happiest he'd been to hear about a trade while adding that it seemed like the team had "filled their void." 

With renewed hope that Kane could end up on Broadway, it's up to the Rangers to secure a deal. Whether or not they can bring the three-time Stanley Cup winner in for a playoff run remains to be seen. 

Entering play Wednesday night, the Rangers (33-15-9) have 75 points, eight points ahead of the New York Islanders for the third spot in the Metropolitan Division. Trading for Kane isn't an essential need, but adding him to their lineup could offer a significant boost offensively.

Even with declining production, Kane is still a scoring threat. Through 53 games, Kane has recorded 14 goals and 28 assists for 42 points.