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Sharks Looking at Evander Kane Trade Due to Team Friction Issues

Originally posted on NHL Trade Talk | Last updated 6/24/21

Speculation is that Evander Kane may have worn out his welcome with another team. The controversial forward — who earlier this season made headlines for financial trouble and bankruptcy rumors — has been a highly-productive player on the ice, but an often-vilified player off the ice. Stories of him needing to mature, of selfish behavior and of other issues that affect his standing with each team he’s played for might be coming around again.

Frank Seravalli of The Daily Faceoff made a list of the Top 20 players that could be traded this NHL offseason and Kane made the list at No. 5. It’s a surprising spot until you here Seravalli’s explanation as to why. He writes: “Doug Wilson is navigating choppy waters in the Bay Area. Sources indicate significant friction built up between Kane and a number of his teammates last season, frustration that was expressed clearly to management in exit interviews.”

Seravalli adds that the question of a trade is a very real on in San Jose, but the team has to decide what it values more (production or team chemistry), or if things can get back on track. The NHL insider adds:

“The trouble is Kane is also coming off the best season of his career: 32 goal and 40 assist pace over an 82-game season. He is one of the best at his position with a relentless forechecking style – and he’s signed to a contract that is commensurate with that production. We’ll see where this goes.”

In other words, Kane is not a bargain, but he’s also not overpaid for what he provides. He’s a $7 million cap hit for four more seasons and for that money, he’s a top-six winger, guaranteed to produce 20 goals per game, provide a physical edge and be harder to play against come playoff time. He’s not played a ton of playoff games over the course of over a decade’s worth of games in the NHL, but at 29 years old, there’s still a lot there.

Kane Comes With Problems

Even if a team believes a change of scenery and a new, more closely-knit group would do Kane good, there’s the small issue of his finances. It wasn’t long ago there was talk he might just sit out the season and not get paid to avoid garnishment of his salary. Whether that was incredibly accurate or not, that there’s even a question of that happening means, fi you’re trading for Kane, you’d better know what you’re getting.

This won’t be an easy deal for the Sharks to swing either. As per Sheng Peng of SanJoseHockeyNow.com, “Good luck” is what one NHL executive thinks about the San Jose Sharks’ chances of winning an Evander Kane trade. “He’s been known to bring turmoil into a team and not bring a team together,” said another NHL source familiar with Kane, “and that seems to have continued.” If you’re Sharks’ GM Doug Wilson, that this won’t be an issue is something you have to sell to another club.

This article first appeared on NHL Trade Talk and was syndicated with permission.

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