Patrick Kane talks leaving Blackhawks for Rangers: 'This is such an amazing opportunity'

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Patrick Kane took the practice ice Thursday morning in New York wearing a different sweater for the first time in his 16 years in the NHL.

On Thursday night at Madison Square Garden, Kane will be playing his first game as a New York Ranger. 

Kane has only known the Chicago Blackhawks, the team he won three Stanley Cups with. But as the team’s struggles continued this season, Kane decided it was the time to exercise his right to approve a trade.

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Patrick Kane of the Chicago Blackhawks controls the puck against the Vegas Golden Knights during the first period at United Center Feb. 21, 2023, in Chicago. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

"You go back and forth in your head a bunch of times about a trade, but I just feel like this is such an amazing opportunity with what they have going on here in New York," Kane said in his first press conference, via the New York Post. 

"And you know, when the option was still there to possibly make a move, it wasn’t the easiest decision, but I’m just really excited to be here. With this team, with the amount of skill and good players that they have here, it’s just another chance to make a run."

The New York Rangers are clearly making a push for the Stanley Cup, and Kane was long rumored to be the player they were after to help them get there. New York fell short last season after losing to the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Eastern Conference finals. GM Chris Drury's plan was to acquire offensive firepower.

BLACKHAWKS TRADE FRANCHISE LEGEND PATRICK KANE TO RANGERS AFTER 16 SEASON IN CHICAGO: REPORTS

The Blackhawks were also prepared to move Kane, who