With the lack of a culture changing or impact move thus far this summer, the likely availability of Winnipeg Jets star forward
Evander Kane may intrigue the Maple Leafs, but the question before GM Dave Nonis is would the soon-to-be 23-year-old be a good fit with his club on the ice.
Kane was drafted fourth overall in 2009(three picks before the Leafs selected Nazem Kadri) and played two seasons in Atlanta before the franchise move to Winnipeg in 2011.
After scoring a career-high 30 goals in 2011-12, the Vancouver, BC native signed a six-year, $31.5 Million extension with the Jets, but the lack of progress towards making the playoffs and other factors have led to Kane’s discontent.
A trade involving Kane has been widely speculated for months and the the winger did nothing to silence those rumors with his comments on Vancouver’s Team 1040 Radio on Tuesday after being asked if he wanted to return to Manitoba for a fourth season.
“Well, I think I'm a Winnipeg Jet right now, and, you know, there's been speculation and rumors the three years since I got there.” Kane said. “So, you know, we'll see what happens and we'll carry on as if I'm a Winnipeg Jet.”
The difficulty for GM Kevin Cheveldayoff is that with everyone in the hockey world knowing that Kane wants out of Winnipeg, opposing GM’s are likely to offer less than fair value for an impact player.
While the Leafs would undoubtedly be intrigued to add a player of Kane’s quality to their lineup (who is under contract for four more years at $5.25 Million per season), they would like have to offer a package including a young roster player(like Nazem Kadri), along with picks and/or prospects for a player who does not answer Toronto’s two major needs, a top pairing defenseman or top line center.
What has to concern any team interested in acquiring Kane is the way he has approached the situation in Winnipeg, his rather free use of social media which has attracted scorn and ridicule and whether that attitude would be conducive to their market. Toronto as a big city and premium hockey market might just be the right fit for Kane, but things could go very wrong with the increased scrutiny of being in a media fishbowl.
Will update later with news and comments from the Leafs rookie camp in Etobicoke
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