Eklund: Crowdsourcing: Evander Kane. Did Edmonton Make a Good Signing? Buzz@1

All I can is every time he put on a Sabre jersey he played his ass off.

All I can is every time he put on a Sabre jersey he played his ass off.
- lacaprup

A teammate's testimony holds a lot more water for me. When it's basically all former teammates saying the exact same thing there's not a lot of reason to doubt them.

Point me to a former teammate who will defend him

Anyone who thinks Kane won't improve their offense is fooling themselves. He's going to have a significant impact on this forward group which will push someone down creating some depth, but obviously goaltending is this issue and any team that tries to simply add scoring when they give up too many goals ultimately fails at any real success, so at the end of the day it's a bandaid that doesn't cover the whole wound.

Koskanen has 4.5 cap hit and would go the other way in a deal for a goalie. What’s the problem?

Good blog. Nice analysis of the cap situation.

Signing someone who will ultimately bring down your team is not in any way shape or form a good signing. These are the types of decisions why teams like Buffalo, Edmonton, etc. have struggled so much over the years while the good teams wouldn't touch Kane with a 10 ft pole.

Dude's a tool and a cancer in the dressing room, but he's good at hockey, I guess.

I wouldn't, but hey, if you're the Oilers, desperate times call for desperate measures.

I don't care what McDavid SAYS to media, but now he KNOWS his career in EDM is done. Thanks Holland

Koskanen has 4.5 cap hit and would go the other way in a deal for a goalie. What’s the problem?
- BrainSap

Problem is probably what the Oilers would have to give up for the other team to take Koskanen for the rest of the year... for example, you can't honestly tell me Chicago would trade Flower for him straight across? Oilers would have to sweeten the pot big time, even if Fleury makes $2.5m more a year.

Koskanen isn't going anywhere without a significant sweetener.

Some weird responses here.

Kane has been cleared of every significant charge against him. Managed to get custody of his child in the state of California. Has cited excellent post season interviews from SJS management. Got glowing endorsements from his AHL teammates...

Sure we can all speculate he is human trash but without proof he is only guilty of being a gambling addict and terrible with money.

Hard to say for sure if he will help on ice but I think most would generally agree he should add to any teams offense. Goalie and defense are bigger concerns for the Oilers so this doesn't help them a lot.

Of a Kenny Holland's terrible moves this one at least is a solid gamble to at least help the team a bit. Obviously Holland should be going for a goalie but obviously Holland is a terrible GM and should have addressed that year's ago.

Who the hell wants Koskinen?

Signing someone who will ultimately bring down your team is not in any way shape or form a good signing. These are the types of decisions why teams like Buffalo, Edmonton, etc. have struggled so much over the years while the good teams wouldn't touch Kane with a 10 ft pole.
- Izzo

Wasn't Tampa a team that just reached out to his agent? And Florida, and Washington? Feel free to bash Kane for his character, but your statement on "good teams" is way off, IMO. Wait and see the list of teams that try to sign him for a bargain in the off season, when even more have some roster flexibility.

Kane will play hard and score goals, and Oiler fans will love that. He won’t be there long enough to cause any serious issues, and when you start winning games more often it makes some issues go away, for a while. Oilers are desperate and this move will work for the remainder of the season.

As for Holland saying everyone deserves a second chance……gimme a break, this is chance 4 or 5 at least. And with respect to Kostkinen, nobody is taking that contract at half the price.

Oilers will go on a bit of a streak with this move but ultimately are a long way from competing on any serious level.

The Hockey business is to win, the signing is to improve Edmontons chances.

When will he score his first Goal? I say Feb 9th vs. Chicago.

Not a Kane fan do not care if the oilers think he can help he is not going to help the room that's for sure. This is what happens when you have a team that is fundamentally Flawed in construction you go out and add more of what you do not really need at the cost of a probable headache

The Hockey business is to win, the signing is to improve Edmontons chances.

When will he score his first Goal? I say Feb 9th vs. Chicago.
- Tee56

I say he scores tomorrow on his first shift.

A teammate's testimony holds a lot more water for me. When it's basically all former teammates saying the exact same thing there's not a lot of reason to doubt them.

Point me to a former teammate who will defend him
- farooge

There's no defending him off ice. It's a devil's bargain, but you will get goals and hits.

It's criminal that the Sabres aren't getting involved in these situations and getting paid to take Koskinen. And we have no healthy, non-suspended goalies right now.

Not weaponizing this cap space is worse than most of the blunders over the past 12 years.

It's a deal with the devil. I think you ask any player the off-ice distractions are enough to say no to this deal, but when you're spiralling like the Oilers are, the front office needs to do something - anything - to protect their job security.

Another reason to hate the Oilers !

$100 on the Oil to win the cup pays $4,100. Worth a long shot I think.

does Kane make the Oilers better on the Ice. Yup. Power forward who can hit, skate, score and drop the mitts (and win) is rare. However he overstays his welcome very fast. He has been launched from the PEG, Buffalo, San Jose all within the last 3 years and all for selfish reasons.

its simple really, good player, but a franking TOOL BAG.........

I say he scores tomorrow on his first shift.
- HockeyBuzzed

And viewing from press-box for his 4th game

Some weird responses here.

Kane has been cleared of every significant charge against him. Managed to get custody of his child in the state of California. Has cited excellent post season interviews from SJS management. Got glowing endorsements from his AHL teammates...

Sure we can all speculate he is human trash but without proof he is only guilty of being a gambling addict and terrible with money.

Hard to say for sure if he will help on ice but I think most would generally agree he should add to any teams offense. Goalie and defense are bigger concerns for the Oilers so this doesn't help them a lot.

Of a Kenny Holland's terrible moves this one at least is a solid gamble to at least help the team a bit. Obviously Holland should be going for a goalie but obviously Holland is a terrible GM and should have addressed that year's ago.
- Aerchon

Well said and I could not agree more. I suspect half the accusations may be false and people are too eager to jump on the band wagon to destroy him for whatever reason. Rumors are sadly enough to end careers or destroy people's lives. I know Evander is not a model citizen but not everything is true I am sure. The bottom line is everyone deserves a chance to change even if it takes a few attempts. All the best to Evander and hope he realizes some of his choices, like his ex wife have been poor choices. He will resurrect his career in Edmonton because he is one hell of a gifted hockey players and the Oilers are a perfect fit. Who would not love to play with two of the best in the game. If Kane blows this opportunity I would be surprised.