Kane Always Get Whatcha Want (sabres sharks evander kane)

sabres sharks evander kane

Kane Always Get Whatcha Want

By GARTH'S CORNER

Mar 17, 2018 • 9:11 am

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I said it before and I'll say it again. The team that trades for Evander Kane is going to tilt the balance of power in the Western Conference playoff race.

Take a bow San Jose Sharks GM Doug Wilson who bravely traded for Kane while his NHL GM counterparts were caught rubber-necking.

Wilson traded forward prospect Danny O'Regan and conditional first- and fourth-round picks in the 2019 NHL Draft to the Buffalo Sabres for Kane on February 26, the day of the NHL Trade Deadline. Wilson began the process of acquiring Kane by polling his veteran leadership group to determine whether it believed Kane would add value to the San Jose lineup. Kane's off ice reputation preceeds him. Wilson needed to be 100% certain that trading for Kane would not distrort the balance and harmony of his locker room. Admittedly, Kane has never played on an NHL team before that has such a deep, tight, mature leadership group guiding it. With Joe Thornton, Joe Pavelski, Marc Edouard Vlasic, Brent Burns, Logan Couture, Joel Ward and others as leaders, all Kane needs to do is report for work on time and play hockey. The San Jose model seemingly is a perfect fit for Evander Kane.

Wilson's investment in Evander Kane is paying huge dividends right now.

Since February 26, the Sharks have earned 12 of the possible 16 points that were available to them. By adding Kane, Pete DeBoer's line combinations have become more difficult for opponents to defend.

Kane has injected massive amounts of confidence and skill into the Sharks, who have outscored opponents 32-20 with Evander in their lineup. Kane has scored 5 goals and 5 assists while landing 32 shots on enemy goalies in his eight games as a Shark. He's averaging 18:40 TOI per game.

Adding Kane to an already formidable lineup makes the Sharks a threat against Western powers Vegas, Nashville and Winnipeg. The Sharks have the sights set on stalking down the Golden Knights for first place in the Pacific.

Poor Mike Smith. The Calgary goalie was mauled by Kane on Friday night.

Prior to Friday night, Kane had never scored three goals or more in an NHL game in his nine year career.

Kane joins elite company in Sharks history by scoring four goals in a game.

Tomas Hertl, Patrick Marleau and Owen Nolan have all scored four goals in a game for the Sharks.

Evander's ultra-aggressive shooting and skating habits have served him well for the two weeks that he has been playing with his new Sharks teammates.

On Friday night, Kane controlled the red light on the Red Mile. In his 565th NHL game, Kane finally wore the sombrero. Kane scored four goals on veteran Mike Smith for his first carer hatty and four-bagger.

Looking for a power power forward with even strength scoring prowess at the NHL trade deadline, Calgary was one of a dozen teams who scouted Evander Kane while he skated with the Buffalo Sabres. The Flames surely could have used Evander's Kane's patented brand of swagger, skill, power and passion. The Flames continue to sink in the Western Conference wild card chase. The Flames are in 10th place and are in need of a miracle. Conversely, the Sharks (87 points) are now only eight points behind the Pacific Division leading vegas Golden Knights. The Sharks are now in fourth place in the Western playoff race standings.

Never before Kane has ever played in an NHL playoff game. That will all change at the conclusion of the NHL regular season next month.

Kane told the team website he is ecstatic for the opportunity to play in the most meaningful games.

"I always kind of considered myself a playoff player who hasn't played in the playoffs. So I'll have to back that up with action, but I'm definitely excited about that possibility. I watch it on TV and I'm sick of watching. I want to be involved in it. I want to be a part of it, and I want to be a part of it for a long time."

Sabres fans want Kane to succeed in the worst way. The majority of the Buffalo fan base did not want to say goodbye to Evander Kane. When Kane re-signs in San Jose, the Sabres will benefit greatly when Kane re-signs with the Sharks. The conditional first rounder will become a 2019 first round pick when Kane re-signs with the Sharks.

At this rate, why would Kane want to leave the Sharks? He loves his new teammates and the NoCal lifestyle and his teammates and fans love him.

Kane will lead his Sharks against his hometown Vancouver Canucks on Hockey Night In Canada.

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