Canucks should pass if Sabres trade Kane: Botchford
Evander Kane isn’t even on the so-called trade block, but his name has dominated the local sports conversation for days. Why stop now? Truth is, there is merit to it all because if the Buffalo Sabres were ever to auction off their troubled star, the Canuc
1 The price
If there’s a fan base that speculates more about obtaining stars at budget prices, I’m not aware of it. Call it the “Raymond, Ballard and a second” syndrome. That’s a reference to the old package fans would come up with — Mason Raymond, Keith Ballard and a second-round draft pick — to offer for whichever star had just hit the trade block.
People seem to believe Kane can be had for a discount. But even at a discounted price, a trade would likely cost Vancouver something along the lines of Jake Virtanen plus an asset or two.
Just look at that Tyler Seguin deal, the one in which the former Bruins stud centre was seemingly given away. The Dallas Stars still surrendered a three-time 70-point player (Loui Eriksson), a decent prospect coming off a very strong rookie AHL season (Reilly Smith) and a 23-yearold who had just scored 70 goals in 135 AHL games (Matt Fraser).
Sorry, Emerson Etem, Luca Sbisa and a second-round draft pick won’t get a Kane deal done. Not even close. Start building packages with names like Virtanen, Brock Boeser, Thatcher Demko, Jannik Hansen or Chris Tanev.
2 Timing
There’s nothing inherently wrong with giving Kane another chance and taking a risk. It just makes significantly more sense if it’s a team with Stanley Cup aspirations who is doing it. Whether they’ll ever admit it or not, the Canucks are rebuilding. They need to lay the groundwork now for a post-Sedin era. They’re in a position on their organizational life cycle where they need to be collecting and hoarding assets. They’re not in a position, in their organizational life cycle, where they should be taking big leaps of faith on suspect players. Why is Kane worth the risk to Vancouver? Because he can get them to the playoffs? It’s not enough.
3 Image
The court documents acquired by Buffalo news station WKBW include some ugly accusations.
In a statement, a nightclub bouncer alleges he watched video surveillance with employees and “saw Evander Kane grab a brunette by the throat on the dance floor.”
In another statement, a woman claims Kane grabbed her neck with both hands, adding, “it was like I couldn’t breathe. It hurt.”
In another statement, another woman alleges he pulled her hair, tried to make her kiss his hand and then “really started arguing” with her.
4 Impact on young players
The Sedin way has become the Canucks’ way.
Much of the second half of last season was about the Sedins sending messages to the team’s youngest players, trying to guide them on how to act professionally.
Is adding a player who was suspended by the Sabres last season for missing practice really going to help the goal here?
5 Coming home may not be answer
There is a theory Kane would be better off in Vancouver, playing with the Canucks and living near his family. That could be right, but there are no guarantees it would work.
You could, if you were so inclined, make the argument that there are more triggers for troubled people who come back home and are surrounded by old friends and tempted by old habits.