Suddenly, the Buffalo Sabres’ return for winger Evander Kane – remember, the trade looked pretty underwhelming three months ago – includes a first-round pick.
The San Jose Sharks officially re-signed Kane, who would’ve become an unrestricted free agent July 1, to a seven-year contract today worth $49 million, according to capfriendly.com. In keeping Kane, 26, the second-round pick in 2019 they dealt the Sabres on Feb. 26 becomes a first-rounder.
The pick is lottery protected, so if the Sharks miss the playoffs next season, it would be moved to 2020.
The Sharks also dished the Sabres center Danny O’Regan and a conditional fourth-rounder in 2019 in the deal, the only legitimate offer they had for Kane, general manager Jason Botterill said at the time.
Right away, Kane, whose early tenure in Buffalo was marked with off-ice incidents, meshed with the Sharks, compiling nine goals and 14 points in 17 regular-season games. He scored four goals and five points in his first nine NHL playoff appearances.
Kane has compiled 186 goals and 354 points in 574 games, including 29 goals and 54 points in 78 contests in 2017-18. If he had hit the open market, he likely would’ve been one of the most coveted forwards.
Ok will the Sabres blow it? Gosh I sure hope not! My issue that you can’t have all this talent on the payroll at the same time with a cap. So entry level contracts will be fine. But what happens when the talent blossoms and you cannot afford them anymore? I suppose Pitsburgh has the template on that as they seem to be able to keep plenty of talent year after year! I love the fact that Vegas has plenty of room under the cap and still winning. I say develop from within and no big STARS are really required. Oh, we need a goalie don’t we..??? lol Who will that be this year?
Exactly Anthony ! All these high draft picks you would like to think more than half would pan out. Then you have to pay them eventually. Hopefully we can get there to have this problem,it would be a great problem to have I guess lol. On our Goalie,it’s anyone’s guess at this point. I say get a veteran in a trade at the draft and go with Ullmark.