Once pushed by off-ice baggage and lack of production onto the Buffalo Sabres’ trade block, it seems like Evander Kane’s recent resurgence could keep him rooted on the shores of Lake Erie.
NHL Trade Rumors 2017: Evander Kane is playing himself off the Sabres’ trade block
GM Tim Murray says he isn’t shopping the winger.
Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Asked about Kane’s availability before the March 1 NHL trade deadline, Sabres general manager Tim Murray told WGR 550 that he “wouldn’t rule it out” if the right offer came along.
“Is there a crazy deal that somebody could throw at me that would force me to do it? I guess there is,” Murray said. “[But] I’m not pursuing a trade with him. I haven’t made a call, with regards to him, to other teams. I’m a big fan of his game. He plays in our top six. He plays a hard, gritty, heavy game — with speed. And that’s a rare, rare combination.”
Kane began the season with a dreadfully quiet start that had teams like the Vancouver Canucks poking around to see if they could buy low on the 25-year-old winger. But Kane has re-found his game with vigor since December, with 16 goals and 23 points in his last 32 games. He’s found particular chemistry over the last ten games on a line with Zemgus Girgensons and Brian Gionta.
Buffalo is still six points out of the playoffs, however, and with a slim 9.7 percent chance of a playoff berth they might be willing to get assets back while shedding Kane’s $5.250 million cap hit that expires after next season. Murray said as much.
But if Kane is truly back in Buffalo’s good graces (even after a season of negative off-ice news), the Sabres have other assets to sell. ESPN’s Pierre LeBrun has suggested in the past that losers in the Kevin Shattenkirk sweepstakes could poach Buffalo defenseman Dmitry Kulikov as consolation.
Kulikov has just two points this season after the Sabres acquired him from the Florida Panthers last summer.
See More:
