It wasn't supposed to be this way for Patrick Kane.

He expected to wear only one uniform in his NHL career, having been drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks in 2007 and becoming a Stanley Cup-winning franchise icon over the next 16 seasons. But a rebuild, and a desire to break from the past, meant "Showtime" ended in Chi-Town last season with a trade deadline move to the New York Rangers.

"Him and Johnny [Toews] wanted to retire as Hawks. But unfortunately, things worked out differently," Kane's agent, Pat Brisson, told ESPN last week.

Kane, 34, entered uncharted territory this summer. He's no longer a Blackhawk and is officially an unrestricted free agent for the first time in his career after his eight-year, $84 million deal ended.

In another offseason, Kane's availability would have produced weeks of intense speculation before a massive contract announcement on July 1. He's fourth among active players in points (1,237) and sixth in goals (451). Even past his peak, he's an explosive offensive talent on the wing.

But Patrick Kane remains a free agent midway through July. The NHL's flat salary cap for 2023-24 is one factor. Kane's decision to undergo major hip surgery a month before free agency opened, which will keep him out of action for four to six months, is the primary factor.