While the Buffalo Sabres have made no indication on what their plans are for embattled wing Evander Kane, who has one year remaining on his contract, it is likely the 25-year-old goal scorer would be highly coveted by a number of teams if the team want to trade him. Yahoo Sports’ Justin Cuthbert writes the Kings could be the favorite to acquire Kane if the Sabres choose to move him.
Whether or not the Sabres move him is up for debate. The Hockey News’ Lyle Richardson wrote last week that Buffalo general manager Jason Botterill will allow the new head coach to have a say on whether the team wants to send off Kane, who is coming off his best season (on the ice) after scoring 28 goals, the most he’s netted in five seasons. The Sabres, who have yet to hire a head coach are awaiting the opportunity to interview Nashville assistant coach Phil Housley after the Stanley Cup Finals conclude. However, with Kane’s offensive success on the ice, this might be the best time to move on from Kane and get something for him before he becomes an unrestricted free agent next season.
Cuthbert writes that Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet hinted Saturday that Los Angeles might have the edge on acquiring Kane, “… the word is that the L.A. Kings are one of the teams that’s interested, and I think the Sabres are willing to do it if L.A. and them can strike a deal.”
The Kings, now under new management with general manager Rob Blake taking over, want to springboard the franchise back to its former glory. Adding a bona-fide scorer in Kane would fix the Kings’ biggest issue, which was scoring. The Kings are just one of seven teams that failed to score 200 goals last season. Kane put up huge numbers after he healed from a broken ribs injury on opening night. From December on, he put up those 28 goals in 59 games.
The down-side to Kane is his off-ice issues, which stem from two separate legal incidents in 2016, which include multiple charges as well as his ugly departure with Winnipeg Jets’ management two years ago. Those issues makes him a liability if he doesn’t get his act together. His $5.25MM contract, even if it’s just for one more year, is another obstacle for the Kings, who have limited cap space and still need to strike a deal with restricted free agent Tyler Toffoli. What the Kings might have to trade away to get Kane is another question, although Richardson said the Sabres might be looking for a second-round pick and a player in exchange for him.
What is there to trade? Kings only assets are Doughty, Carter, Anzo, Quick & Tiffoli who needs a contract. None of which will be avail for a trade. Lombardi drowned us in horrible contracts and zero prospects. Best to strip the team down and start from scratch.
They have picks to trade
No cap room to resign some of there guys and trade picks for Kane
I’d trade quick
Maybe if the Sabres ate part of his contract, they could get more for him. Maybe a 1st rounder.