Colorado Avalanche
Should the Avs put in a claim for Evander Kane?
Fairly big news today in the NHL, when it was revealed that the San Jose Sharks would be putting Evander Kane on waivers. The Avalanche will probably be near the bottom of the pack in the ability to even put in a claim if they wanted to, as they only recently claimed Nicolas Aube-Kubel on waivers from Philadelphia – and that moves you to the bottom of the pack when you do that.
But the question of the day is: if Kane were still available when their turn at a claim on him comes, should they take him? As I understand it, though, taking him on waivers would not be as advantageous for the Avs – or any team – because they’d then be responsible for his contract, which carries the rest of this season and THREE MORE at a cap hit of $7 million.
If you claimed Kane on waivers, though, you wouldn’t have to give up any other assets to get him. The most likely way to get him is via trade, especially when reports say the Sharks might be willing to eat half his salary. What is likely to happen is: Kane will clear waivers, then be sent to the AHL’s San Jose Barracuda, where everybody will wait and see how he plays from there. If he lights it up, a contending team might just be willing to take a chance on him. If he isn’t traded or claimed, the Sharks are expected to buy out the final three years of his deal. Then, he’d be an unrestricted free agent.
Kane, obviously, comes with a TON of baggage, including a recent suspension for falsifying a vaccination card to the Sharks. But, he was the Sharks’ leading scorer last season, and he can play.
Look, I’m a forgiving guy. We all screw up, some more publicly than others. So, I’m not one of these people who automatically says “no way!” in giving people second (or third) chances after bad behavior. But, yeah, Kane’s baggage is serious. All the reports I’ve read from those covering the Sharks say he’s not well-liked at all anymore in the team dressing room.
If you can play, though, there is always one team out there that will take another chance. Should it be the Avs? Big, physical, 20-goal-scorers don’t grow on trees, you know. According to PuckPedia, the Avs only have $886,000 of cap space right now, which would make a trade and the Sharks eating a lot of his salary probably the only way a deal could happen. But, hey, the Avs could be getting a very good player for not much back. With Vegas recently having added Jack Eichel, the arms race is on again in the West. Stranger things have happend.
Let’s hear what YOU think about taking a chance on Evander Kane?