Where Could Evander Kane Finish The 2021-2022 Season?
Evander Kane has had a rocky past few years. Unfortunately for the talented winger, things went from bad to worse. The San Jose Sharks have terminated the remainder of his 7-year, $49 million deal. Kane has dealt with a multitude of off-ice issues in recent years. Instances of misconduct can stretch back as far as 2016 but have certainly escalated within the past 36 months. Along with being sued by a Las Vegas casino for gambling debts, Kane has also experienced the heartbreak of a miscarriage. Furthermore, his former wife Anna and him had a very public and graphic breakdown of their marriage. More betting and domestic violence accusations surfaced as a result. Most recently, Kane has violated COVID-19 protocols in both the NHL and AHL after submitting a fake vaccine card for this season and breaching quarantine.
Despite all that, Kane is still a good player. He is great around the net and is not afraid to stand up for his teammates. Kane was one of the lone bright spots for an otherwise poor Sharks team last season, posting 49 points in 56 games. While there could be chemistry issues on some teams, he is certainly an impact player at only 30 years old. Here are three teams that could potentially pick up Kane for the remainder of the season.
The Vegas Golden Knights
Shoutout to Hockey Guy Trey on this one. Despite the chance that Kane could find plenty to do off the ice, the Knights are certainly a good fit for the power forward. Uncle Trey has also called for Vegas to offload the injury-prone Max Pacioretty, and I think Kane would be a great replacement. Even with the injuries, teams will want to take a chance on Patches, who is still a point-per-game player when healthy. Swapping Kane for Pacioretty with a healthy Jack Eichel will make this team a juggernaut. Furthermore, they can probably recoup some lost assets from the Eichel trade while also gaining some salary flexibility.
The Edmonton Oilers
There is a pretty credible link to Kane ending up in Oil town. GM Ken Holland told reporters today that he believes in second chances, while also being in contact with his representation. Once again, I see this as a logical fit for Kane. Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl deserve as much help as they can get, and I see Kane as just that. Zach Hyman has had a pretty good start to life in Edmonton, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins was a must-keep for Edmonton. However, Kane would be another weapon to add to that top 6. Seeing Kane in an orange sweater would more than likely solidify the Oilers as one of the most dangerous offenses in the NHL.
The Florida Panthers
While I also agree with Trey’s point about the Lightning, I also see the Panthers as a good fit. The Cats are off to a flying start in the Atlantic Division. As the top team in the Atlantic, it would hardly be a surprise to see them go all in. The only issue with the Panthers is their scoring inequality. Jonathan Huberdeau should be seen as a Hart candidate with 46 points in 35 games. However, there is a big drop-off after that. Captain Aaron Ekblad is the team’s second-leading scorer with 29 points in 34 games. As impressive as that is for a defenseman, they do need some more help. Adding an offensive talent like Kane while also solidifying the left-wing depth would be a savvy move for the Panthers.
Evander Kane now has plenty of options before him. Stanley Cup contenders will certainly do their due diligence when it comes to the former #4 pick. He still has plenty in the tank, and his addition could make any team a true contender once the spring and summer roll around.
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