The Evander Kane soap opera has finally come to an end with the Winnipeg Jets.
Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff and Buffalo Sabres GM Tim Murray have completed a blockbuster trade that will send power forward Kane, veteran defenceman Zach Bogosian, and goalie prospect Jason Kasdorf (6'3" 178 lbs) to the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for Tyler Myers, Drew Stafford, and prospects Joel Armia, Brendan Lemieux. Buffalo will also send one of its 2015 first round draft choices to the Jets.Murray will send the Jets the lowest of the three first rounders. The Sabres own the first rounders of St. Louis and the NY Islanders, as well as their own pick.
From the Sabres standpoint, this deal is a huge coup for Murray and Ted Nolan as they will be infusing size, speed, scoring, snarl, and physicality to their lineup. Naturally, Kane won't be available to Murray and Nolan until September's training camp. Kane underwent a successful shoulder surgery last Saturday. Bogosian, a Massena, NY native, will be ready to play for the Sabres when they host the Philadelphia Flyers on Sunday afternoon.
Sabres fans are going to love Evander Kane. He's big, strong, fast and furious as a loaded freight train, and can score with the best of them. When healthy, that is. Tim Murray and the Sabres medical staff will be seeing to it that Kane is ready for next season by letting him rest and recover for the next 4-6 months. Kane has been playing with a chronically injured shoulder. This surgery and subsequent physical therapy period will do the 23 year old power forward a world of good. Imaging a 100% healthy and motivated wing lining up with Matt Moulson on Connor McDavid or Jack Eichel's wings come opening night 2015.
Scary thought!
Knowing the guys in the Buffalo room the way that I do, I can say for certainty that Kane will not be pre-judged by his new Sabres teammates. To the contrary. He will get their immediate respect and will be welcomed with open arms by the leadership and rank and file.
As I've been reporting in this space for the past three weeks, the Jets have been sending front office suits as well as scouts to Buffalo lately to do their diligence and homework on Myers and Stafford. I've been reporting for the past year that Myers' name has been on the lips of many NHL GMs and scouts, including Detroit, Colorado, Winnipeg, LA, and Anaheim. Naturally, I got ripped for even suggesting that the Sabres would dare to trade away their best D-man in Myers. Last week, when Kane and his teammates were at a stalemate, I looked directly at the Sabres as the team that the Jets would be most want to do a deal with for Kane because of their embarrassment of riches. Cheveldayoff knew that Murray has the necessary cap room, organizational prospects, veteran players and first round draft choices to use as currency to pay for this deal. What's more, Chevy trades Kane to the East where he won't have to compete with him head to head in the regular season and in playoffs for the next 10 years. Tim Murray wasn't "trying" to trade Myers, however, he was all ears when he was called, emailed, or sent texts about trading for #57. Murray accepted all trade proposals, then reviewed them with his scouts and ownership before pulling the trigger on the second blockbuster trade of his one year NHL GM career. You'll recall that Murray sent Ryan Miller and Steve Ott to St. Louis last February for a 2015 first rounder, Jaro Halak, and William Carrier.
The economics of this deal are a push in that Myers and Kane have similar salary cap number for the remainder this and the next three seasons. Myers is $5.5 million and Kane $5.25 million, respectively. Stafford and Bogosian and $4 million cap hits. Stafford is UFA on JUly 1 while Bogosian's current deal expires at the completion of the 2018-19 season.
In the end, Myers needed a change of scenery. He's 25 years old and is about to enter the prime years of his NHL career. His struggles with self confidence and his physical conditioning corrupted his game for decent chunks of time since the lockout ended in 2013. This trade will do him a world of good. He will be joining an uber talented Jets D corps that is deep and diverse. Paul Maurice will love Myers on the PP point, on the PK, and running 200 feet up and down the ice while playing 5 on 5.
Last Thursday, I knew something serious was brewing between Murray and Cheveldayoff when I saw the Jets' AGM and a pro scout in the press box for the Sabres-Blues game. Last night, the Jets sent their Director of pro scouting to Buffalo to watch the Sabres-Senators game. This trade was made possible by the recent solid play of Myers and Stafford, who will become a UFA on July 1.
I don't mind trading Armia because I am convinced that prospect wingers Nick Baptiste and Justin Bailey will add immediate goal scoring and snarl from the wings when they matriculate to AHL Rochester next season. Bailey is on pace top score 40 this season for the Soo Greyhounds while Baptiste is on pace to score 30-35 goals for the Erie Otters this season.
I like the acquisition of Kasdorf who is a big, mobile goalie with upside.
The only aspect of this deal that I hate is having to trade away human sandpaper Brendan Lemieux who has all of the earmarks of becoming a high impact, two-way forward for the next 10 years in the NHL.
What's your take on the deal?
Join the Discussion:
»