Columbus Blue Jackets Facing Possible Trade Option in Evander Kane
The Columbus Blue Jackets coaches, players, and staff will get a look at one of the most talked about players that could be shipped at the deadline.
Tonight the Columbus Blue Jackets will take on the Buffalo Sabres and get a look at more than one player that could be on contending teams come playoff time. One such player is winger Evander Kane who is one of the most highly talked about traded possibility in the league.
Kane is a strong, physical winger that has a knack for scoring. The 26-year-old is built. At six foot two, 215 pounds he impossible to push off of the puck. He is good for about three hits a game and isn’t afraid to chuck the nucks.
And he is a skilled player as well. The forward put up 20 goal seasons three times along with two 19 goal seasons. This year he is on pace to break 30 goals for the second time in his career. Kane has 16 goals and 19 assist this year on a terrible team that is struggling to score.
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Kane would be a rental trade option as well as he is in the final year of his contract. His $5.25 million cap hit isn’t unbearable either, especially since the Sabres can afford to retain some of his salary.
A winger like this will be a coveted commodity on the trade market. The Columbus Blue Jackets might be looking for a player to help energize their offense as they are 27th in offense this year.
The Price for Kane
It is a sellers market though and Kane will not come cheap. Rumor out of Buffalo is that they would like a 1st round pick and a prospect for him.
We recently talked to Sabres expert Rich Spaulding from SabreNoise.com and asked him what he thought a fair deal for Kane would look like.
"The Sabres are asking for a first-round pick and a prospect for Kane’s services, but that might be a little too ambitious for a guy who has only scored 30 goals once.It would be nice to see the Sabres receive that sort of haul, but a proven prospect and a second or third round pick might be the best we can hope for."
For a prospect and a third, the Columbus Blue Jackets should be looking at a guy like Kane. Center depth has been an issue and needs to be addressed first, but scoring hasn’t come easily either.
Next: Staring Down the Barrel: Struggling Sabres
Jackets fans will get an up close look at Evander Kane one last time tonight before the trade deadline. Keep your eye on #9 tonight.