I've been hearing a lot of Evander Kane trade chatter this summer. Despite his off ice matters, Kane's brand is attractive to NHL GMs.
The Kane trade buzz will continue intensify in the coming weeks. Kane likely could be shown the gate when/if Buffalo Sabres GM Tim Murray signs, seals and delivers former Harvard star Jimmy Vesey.
Kane plays left wing. Vesey plays left wing.
Adding Vesey would create a serious logjam at left wing for Dan Bylsma.
Vesey immediately slots into the top six group where he would join Kane. Then there is the issue of finding playing time and complimentary line mates for Matt Moulson and Zemgus Girgensons. Moulson has instant chemistry with his former Islanders liney Kyle Okposo and it would be wise to play the best friends together. I would give Moulson a mulligan for his poor 2015-16 season by throwing him a bone to play with Booker and ROR. I like the puck possession and down low cycling abilities of this trio. If for some reason Moulson stiffs again then I can always play Girgensons on LW with ROR and Okposo, and move Moulson down to L3. Yes, I see Justin Bailey sticking, staying and earning a roster spot with the Sabres after training camp closes. His size, speed, puck handling, playmaking and physicality were very impressive in his games in Buffalo last season.
Bailey has been Buffalo's best player at their rookie development camp this week. Bailey is ready to make the jump to the NHL. I can't say exactly when, but Justin Bailey will play in the NHL this season. Mark my words. His unique blend of oower, precision, passion and persistence has been praiseD by Tim Murray and Dan Bylsma. Bailey's speds, toughness, NHL shot and dogged determination make him a she in to play a vital role for the Sabres this season.
Murray and Bylsma would love to add two highly skilled, high character, mobile, hostile, agile wingers to their roster. Bylsma wants his 2016-17 squad to play fast, heavy hockey ala the Stanley Cup winning Pittsburgh Penguins.
Vesey and Bailey are each 6'3" and 210+ pounds. Both men are proficient on both sides of the puck and in all three zones. Each man can finish and create chances for their line mates.
Marcus Foligno would be the L4 LW for Larsson and Gionta.
Here's my thumbnail sketch of the forward lines once Vesey signs with Buffalo:
Evander Kane and Tyler Ennis would be my odd men out.
In my scenario, Kane and Ennis would be used as currency to fund my left shot QB trade.
If Vesey signs elsewhere, then I keep Ennis and still trade Kane.
Don't sleep on Sabres rookie Alex Nylander either. The eighth overall pick in the June NHL Draft may steal a roster spot after training camp and his nine game NHL tryout. The kid's skills and talent are grotesque. He can play in the NHL today with his blend of skills, skating, hockey IQ and escapability.
Last week, Murray admitted publicly that his patience is “growing thin” in the aftermath of Kane‘s recent off-ice legal dilemma.
Murray didn't mince his words when he said that Kane “needs to behave better” whether or not he’s cleared of harassment complaints.
Murray said that he intends to meet face to face with Kane to discuss his star winger's behavior away from the rink once the legal process has been completed.
On Thursday, Tim Murray introduced his latest UFA acqusiition Kyle Okposo to the Buffalo media at a morning presser. Right around the time that Murray boarded an 11:00 a.m. EDT flight to Boston to meet face to face with Jimmy Vesey and his agent, The Buffalo News reported that Kane has avoided criminal charges stemming from an incident at a Buffalo bar last month. Kane will be charged with non-criminal harassment for allegedly grabbing two women during an altercation.
Murray will get his one on one with Kane when the two men meet in the GM's office in the near future.
It won't be a pleasant one-way convesration. There will be a lot of talking by Murray and a lot of listening by Kane. It will be yet another manversation between Murray and Kane.
In the past six months, Kane has been the focus of two seperate police investigations. He also missed a mandatory Sabres team practice after arriving home late after he attended the NBA All Star Game in Toronto.
Murray may be ready to trade Kane for a veteran puck moving, top pair defenseman.
Kane for Cam Fowler trade chatter has been buzzing in recent weeks.
The Anaheim Ducks desperately need to acquire a scoring left winger who can play top trio minutes with Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry. The Ducks currently have an abundance of high paid NHL defensemen on their roster. When Sami Vatanen signs his new contract extension in the next couple of weeks, it will move Fowler to the exit door.
In the event that Fowler ends up being traded to the Detroit Red Wings or another NHL club, Tim Murray will have to move in a new direction.
Why not look at the Vancouver Canucks?
Weeks ago, Canucks GM Jim Benning proclaimwd his desire to add a fiercely competitive scoring forward. Benning failed to recruit scoring star Steven Stamkos to Vancouver. Stamkos avoided the UFA market by re-signing an eight year, $68 million contract extension to remain in Tampa. Benning also whiffed on acquiring gritty, scoring UFA forwards Kyle Okposo (Sabres), David Backes (Bruins), Troy Brouwer (Flames), Andrew Ladd (Brooklynders) and Eric Staal (Wild).
When he lost out on Stamkos, Benning made an aggressive run at signing Vancouver native and UFA Milan Lucic. In the end, Lucic landed in Edmonton for seven years and $42 million. The Canucks never got a sniff of signing Okposo, 28, who inked a 7 year, $42 million deal in Buffalo.
Benning moved quickly when Lucic went to the Oilers and signed then inked UFA winger consolation prize Loui Eriksson, 30, to a six year, $36 million contract.
The Canucks still have an appetite to add another physically dominating scoring forward to their top six forward group that features a lot of skill but not a lot of truculencw and pugnacity.
Earlier this month, Canucks general manager Jim Benning let it be known that he is hunting for big scoring winger to add to his top six forward group.
“If I had a crystal ball, I would say we’d try to add a winger who had some grit and size to him, who can score”.
The Nucks are also looking to add a veteran blue liner.
The Canucks presently have $4.1 million in available salary cap space.
Evander Kane and Cody Franson might be the men that Benning is looking to acquire via trade.
Kane is a Vancouver, B.C. Native.
Franson is a native of Sicamous, B.C.
Kane starred for the Vancouver Giants of the Western Hockey League. Kane played an integral role on the Vancouver Giants 2007 Memorial Cup championship team. Kane scored 48 goals and 96 points in a sin in 2009.
Franson also starred for the Vancouver Giants. The 6'5” 235 lb. D would add immediate value to Vancouver's top six D corps. Franson is entering the final year of his contract and has fallen down the Buffalo depth chart with the recent signing of veteran defender Justin Falk and the emergence of talented youngsters Brendan Guhle and Casey Nelson.
Kane and Franson would give the Canucks needed offensive punch on their power play.
Kane still calls Vancouver his home.
His family still lives in Vancouver.
It makes sense that Kane would benefit from being around his family and close friends on a permanent basis. Kane is only 24 years old and he has a long NHL career ahead of him. He has to decide fonce and for all for himself who he wants to be as a person and an NHL player in the future.
The Canucks sorely need a power forward who can throw his weight around, flush the walls, hold onto pucks, drive the enemy net, and light the lamp 30+ times per season. Kane potted 20 goals in his injury-plagued first season in Buffalo. The guy will easily score 30 goals this season if he remains a Sabre. With the Sedins, Eriksson, Jake Virtanen, Bo Horvat, Sven Baertschi teeing him up for one-timers, Kane would have no trouble scoring 30 goals in Vancouver.
The Canucks need a rock star. They make their living in the much improved Pacific Division where Edmonton, Calgary, Arizona and San Jose have made great strides at improving their clubs at the NHL Draft and in free agency. The LA Kings and Anaheim Ducks are contemplating making moves to improve their rosters this summer. The Canucks really need to strike while the iron is hot. Players like Kane do not become available every day. Benning and Trevor Linden just may be the executives who can convince Kane to put away his immature ways and to be his better self. The Buffalo Sabres and Winnipeg Jets have tried with no success to get Kane to be the best player he can be.
Maybe it's time for Kane to go home. Literally.
Kane has two years remaining on his current contract. The Canucks might require the Sabres to retain a portion of Kane's $5.25 million and Franson's $3.325 million AAV.
Kane checks all of the pre-requisite boxes of the type of player that Benning is seeking.
Tim Murray's ask in return for Kane would likely be left D Ben Hutton and a prospect.
Hutton (6'2”, 185 lbs.), the 23 year old puck mover. Hutton has played just 75 career games, however, he has shown tremendous confidence and aptitude for the role of top four D-man. Hutton averaged 19:52 TOI, scored one goal and added 24 assists in 2015-16. He landed 104 shots on enemy goalies. He blocked 100 shots and delivered 42 hits.
Let's go ahead and assume that Murray and Benning can come together and agree on an Evander Kane trade. Let's say that Kane plays well at first for his hometown Canucks, however, finds off ice trouble again.
What then?
Benning could always expose Kane to next summer's expansion draft.
Las Vegas and Kane could be a match made in marketing and branding heaven.
Kane certainly would help put fannies in the seats in Vegas while selling the NHL to the masses as the face of the newest NHL franchise.
Home is where the heart is. Kane's home is Vancouver, B.C.
Join the Discussion:
»