One wondered if Arizona Coyotes general manager Don Maloney waited too long on Antoine Vermette, given that there’s been interest all season on the pending unrestricted free agent forward. But Patrick Kane's injury likely has made that a moot point.

With the Chicago Blackhawks definitely interested in Vermette, easily the cream of the crop when it comes to rental forwards, it should help drive up the price to something that the Coyotes can live with.

Although Vermette isn’t the only option for Chicago, one source told ESPN.com Thursday that the Blackhawks had already made lots of calls on several players in the wake of Kane’s injury, so they are being quite proactive on several fronts, not just Vermette.

Still, Vermette is the catch on the rental forward market right now.

I think the New York Rangers and Winnipeg Jets are also among other teams keeping tabs on Vermette, but only if the price makes sense -- and I don’t think it will for either team.

In the case of the Rangers, they don’t have a first-round pick in this year’s draft (traded in Ryan Callahan deal), so if that’s ultimately part of the price, they can’t proceed. And New York doesn’t want to deal any of its top young players or Grade A prospects, either.

The Jets have a pair of first-round picks, their own plus the one they got from Buffalo in the Evander Kane deal. But I don’t think Winnipeg would want to spend a first. So you don’t get the sense the Jets are going to be serious bidders on Vermette unless the price is very reasonable.

As I wrote Wednesday, I just feel Vermette is a perfect fit in Chicago. His two-way game and special-teams impact are just the tonic needed in the wake of Kane’s long-term injury. But the price has to be right, of course.

As mentioned above, the Blackhawks could go elsewhere for help as well. There are other rental options, such as Curtis Glencross, but I just feel like Vermette is the guy who makes the most sense.