Evan’s NHL Daily: Kane Ready For Contract Offers, Larionov Mentoring Kovalenko

Patrick Kane was dealt at the NHL Trade Deadline, and it didn’t exactly work out for the New York Rangers. After hip surgery, he’s ahead of schedule and waiting for the right opportunity to appear.

With the Avalanche, we took a look at how Nikolai Kovalenko is in good hands in the KHL, as Igor Larionov is preparing him for the NHL.

All that and more in this Friday edition of Evan’s Daily.

Colorado Hockey Now

After signing his entry-level contract, Nikolai Kovalenko will spend the season on loan with Torpedo in the KHL. Igor Larionov’s goal? Get him ready for a top six job with the Avalanche.

Kovalenko’s KHL season starts this weekend, by the way.

I’ll be traveling on Friday, as I’m taking the family away for a little vacation before the chaos of the season hits, but there will be pieces dropping this weekend, including…are the Avalanche better or worse than last year?

Patrick Kane Ready For Offers

Patrick Kane spoke to the media on Thursday, and let everyone know that he’s already been on the ice about 20 times after undergoing hip resurfacing surgery in June. While he’s ahead of schedule, he’s going to stick to the original timeline of six months.

“I think we’re at the point now where, I mean, could I come back early? Yeah, probably,” Kane said. “But does it make sense? You know, it might be better to take the full time and just make sure I’m at 105-110% instead of just 90-95. But it’s a lot better than I was last year.”

Kane is being patient with where he signs, but even though he won’t be healthy to start the season, he’s still willing to listen to contract offers. What NHL team could use him the most? Could it even be the Avalanche? He’d have to take a massive pay cut, but they’ve got a little wiggle room to do it. Maybe that’s something we’ll look into here soon…

National Hockey Now

Ownership for the Pittsburgh Penguins has bought and renamed the local TV outlet that airs their games.

Phil Kessel wants to keep playing, and is a reunion with the Boston Bruins an option?

One of the better role players to play in the NHL over the last 15 years, Carl Hagelin has been forced to call it a career.

The Montreal Canadiens released a nice behind-the-scenes video from their NHL Draft meetings.

Kevin Korchinski should be penciled into the Blackhawks lineup come October.

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