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Unless you've been living under a rock the last few years, you've probably seen a steady stream of Evander Kane trade rumors.
Every summer and trade deadline they come up, yet never seem to materialize. This off-season might be different, though. The rumors, as usual, have continuously popped up, but there may finally be some legs to them.
Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff has more or less said he'd trade anyone on the team in the right deal, and Winnipeg Jets beat writers suggest he's more than willing to move Kane should a good offer come along.
I think a trade out of Winnipeg is something Kane would welcome at this point, and his comments on Vancouver radio station The Team 1040 suggest the same.
Via MRemis.ca: Sekeres & Schaad: Evander do you want to play for the Winnipeg Jets anymore?
Evander Kane: Well, I think, uh I’m a Winnipeg Jet right now and um, you know there’s been speculation and rumors for the three years since I got there. You know, we’ll see what happens, and we’ll carry on as if I’m a Winnipeg Jet.
Sekeres & Schaad: There’s not a yes in there, and some Jets fans might say, why doesn’t he want to play for us?, or why isn’t he absolutely fully on board for playing for us?….you’re shaking your finger at me.
Evander Kane: I’m training hard and getting ready for this season, and last summer I didn’t have a full year of training due to some surgery I had, so I found it really important to start training early and get in the best shape possible for this season and that’s my focus.
That's some nice dodging by Kane there, and he's not exactly giving a ringing endorsement of his time with the Jets.
That said, who can blame him? Kane has continuously been portrayed as the bad guy by Winnipeg media, and has been beaten like a drum since Day 1. If I were him, I'd want out too.
Kane wanting out is all well and good, but Cheveldayoff isn't going to give him away. After all, he's a 22-year-old forward signed for four more seasons, and he already has a 30 goal season under his belt.
Cheveldayoff would apparently want a top-6 forward or top-4 defenseman in return for Kane.
New Jersey is likely a long shot, but he has to go somewhere, and I think the Devils have the assets to get a deal done should they pursue it.
As mentioned, Cheveldayoff would obviously like some offense up front to help replace Kane. I imagine that Michael Ryder, who had a down year scoring 18 goals last season, and/or Damien Brunner would be heading the other way.
If Dustin Byfuglien is converted to forward full time, the Jets could use some help on defense as well. After Tobias Enstrom, Zach Bogosian and Jacob Trouba their best option is Grant Clitsome or Mark Stuart. One of the Devils young blue liners (Eric Gelinas, Adam Larsson and/or Jon Merrill) would surely fit into that No. 4 spot nicely.
Another asset may be required on top of Ryder/Brunner and Gelinas/Larsson/Merrill as well, but that package fits the bill of what Cheveldayoff is said to be looking for. Winnipeg would add a young top-4 defenseman, and some scoring to help replace Kane.
Playing the odds alone it's unlikely he ends up in New Jersey, but it seems he'll be dealt sooner or later, and he'd certainly help out the Devils' woeful offense.
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