Trevor Neufeld: Are the Flames Better Off Without Evander Kane?

There are a lot of things to bring up to bash Kane about, but it’s a little weird to spend so many words complaining about his lack of fighting. When a team is paying you 7 million, they don’t want you to fight. Just like the Flames don’t really want Tkachuk fighting.

It’s not great that the only on ice knock against Kane is that he doesn’t fight. The PR is bad but weatherable, and this is an awful signing for the Flames. It makes the Oilers a lot better and Kane knows how to behave himself when he’s settling in to a new team. The Flames are behind the Knights and Oilers now, and I can’t really see them adding anyone anywhere close to an Eichel or Kane. The best they can hope for is being back Giordano even though he’s not really a fit. I can’t see anyone else accepting a trade to Calgary, and all the other big names available have some sort of control over where they go.

Every team is better without the circus that is Kane.

There are a lot of things to bring up to bash Kane about, but it’s a little weird to spend so many words complaining about his lack of fighting. When a team is paying you 7 million, they don’t want you to fight. Just like the Flames don’t really want Tkachuk fighting.

It’s not great that the only on ice knock against Kane is that he doesn’t fight. The PR is bad but weatherable, and this is an awful signing for the Flames. It makes the Oilers a lot better and Kane knows how to behave himself when he’s settling in to a new team. The Flames are behind the Knights and Oilers now, and I can’t really see them adding anyone anywhere close to an Eichel or Kane. The best they can hope for is being back Giordano even though he’s not really a fit. I can’t see anyone else accepting a trade to Calgary, and all the other big names available have some sort of control over where they go.
- Squeaky

Good input. I think the conclusion of the article kind addresses your point about additions; the Flames more just need to shore up their commitment to their checking system. Adding another star isn’t going to solve that. Giroux would be nice though.

There are a lot of things to bring up to bash Kane about, but it’s a little weird to spend so many words complaining about his lack of fighting. When a team is paying you 7 million, they don’t want you to fight. Just like the Flames don’t really want Tkachuk fighting.

It’s not great that the only on ice knock against Kane is that he doesn’t fight. The PR is bad but weatherable, and this is an awful signing for the Flames. It makes the Oilers a lot better and Kane knows how to behave himself when he’s settling in to a new team. The Flames are behind the Knights and Oilers now, and I can’t really see them adding anyone anywhere close to an Eichel or Kane. The best they can hope for is being back Giordano even though he’s not really a fit. I can’t see anyone else accepting a trade to Calgary, and all the other big names available have some sort of control over where they go.
- Squeaky

Wow sounds like you know everything douchebag.

Valentines day should be interesting. Edmonton @ San Jose. I hope someone from San Jose absolutely annihilates him. Would be great to see someone run him and none of the Oilers stand up for him.

Wow sounds like you know everything douchebag.
- FlamesFan1230

Really, how old are You ?

Trevor I enjoyed your blog before the Oilers and Flames game but this one just smacks of jealousy that Oilers now have the best top 9 unit in the Pacific or possibly the western division. The flames really showed their character last night didn't.

"....wouldn't touch him with a ten foot pole" is 100% correct Trevor. Sharp observations and great reporting on the situation. Trusting Holland to make a good decision is laughable, just the Red Wings.

Good input. I think the conclusion of the article kind addresses your point about additions; the Flames more just need to shore up their commitment to their checking system. Adding another star isn’t going to solve that. Giroux would be nice though.
- Trevor_Neufeld_

Shoring up their commitment to their system is great, but they only have one line that can win games. The Knights and Oilers, when healthy, have two fantastic lines and a third that's probably better than the Flames'.

The Flames may have the best line in hockey at the moment, but we've seen over and over what happens to Gaudreau and Tkachuk in the playoffs when things get more physical and they stop calling penalties.

Maybe Ruzicka can be the next Bennett in the playoffs, maybe Pelletier can come in and provide a spark even though he's another undersized guy, but if the Flames want a realistic shot at winning the Cup, they need to find someone who can consistently put the puck in the net to put on their second line.

Trevor I enjoyed your blog before the Oilers and Flames game but this one just smacks of jealousy that Oilers now have the best top 9 unit in the Pacific or possibly the western division. The flames really showed their character last night didn't.
- Seventies-Oil

Care to elaborate who makes up "the best top 9 unit"? I can name two or three.
Is Nuge now considered to be one of the best? Puljujarvi is elite now?
Who are you adding to that, Foegele, Kassian and Yamamoto?
Give me a break.

Care to elaborate who makes up "the best top 9 unit"? I can name two or three.
Is Nuge now considered to be one of the best? Puljujarvi is elite now?
Who are you adding to that, Foegele, Kassian and Yamamoto?
Give me a break.
- Traveldude

Haven't you heard? Dylan Holloway is a 1st ballot HoFer already. Jersey retirement next home game.

Care to elaborate who makes up "the best top 9 unit"? I can name two or three.
Is Nuge now considered to be one of the best? Puljujarvi is elite now?
Who are you adding to that, Foegele, Kassian and Yamamoto?
Give me a break.
- Traveldude

It's a pretty accurate statement, especially when you compare them to the Flames. The Flames have been rolling with three fourth lines for the past two months. There's no one else in the Pacific who comes close to their top nine. Vegas might match them if Eichel is Eichel when he comes back, but they lack the elite top-line talent until that happens.

Best in the West is a bit of a stretch, but they can go McDavid, Draisaitl, RNH down the middle with decent wingers on each. You have to admit that's pretty good.

Greater Interest and Cap Usage for Calgary should be in the POSSIBLY available Tyler Toffoli…

Really, how old are You ?
- henny1953

You should stay to the Canucks blog you douche bag

He won’t be signed to two contracts. The sharks terminated his contract. Kane is going after the contract money. It’s basically a wrongful dismissal case. Also, as an oiler fan I’m pretty excited about him on the team. He’s a solid power forward who has a lot to prove for his next contract.

He won’t be signed to two contracts. The sharks terminated his contract. Kane is going after the contract money. It’s basically a wrongful dismissal case. Also, as an oiler fan I’m pretty excited about him on the team. He’s a solid power forward who has a lot to prove for his next contract.
- doon

Nope, won't be signed to 2 contracts, but the independent arbitrator could determine in his favor and award him full value of his contract. And if so I doubt any team wants to offer him near his on ice value. Which could scare a lot of teams off. And I am sure his past will scare off a lot of sponsorship. To himself and to teams that employ him. Don't be surprised if many of the Oilers sponsors choose to put their money towards other ventures for the remainder of this season and possibly in the future. When a fan base is 50/50 at best about the signing it will scare off more than one corporate sponsor.

You should stay to the Canucks blog you douche bag
- FlamesFan1230

Why hasn't this guy caught a ban yet for how he talks to others? I caught a ban once for saying someone "may be the idiot he was referring to others as" yet this guy has called multiple people douche bags and idiots on multiple threads and is still doing so and caught nothing. Let's see some equality refs. Even his own thread doesn't respect him much.

Nope, won't be signed to 2 contracts, but the independent arbitrator could determine in his favor and award him full value of his contract. And if so I doubt any team wants to offer him near his on ice value. Which could scare a lot of teams off. And I am sure his past will scare off a lot of sponsorship. To himself and to teams that employ him. Don't be surprised if many of the Oilers sponsors choose to put their money towards other ventures for the remainder of this season and possibly in the future. When a fan base is 50/50 at best about the signing it will scare off more than one corporate sponsor.
- wreckage

You could be right. I'm just thinking that the Oilers have been pretty easy to play against. Kane can skate with McDavid, score and add some sandpaper to that line. This really helps keeping Drai on his own line. Helps with the depth throughout the lineup. Now the Oilers just need a team to terminate the contract of a decent goalie. That would be great haha.

A lot has been said about Kane, and he definitely deserves some of it. But some of the accusations have never come to light. Its not like he's a Virtanen. What we know is he lied about his vax and gambled. He hasn't been good in the rooms he has been in. Those are what we know. If the Oilers get a guy who finally realizes he needs to be better with that poop then its a great add. If not, he isn't around very long. I don't mind that gamble.

Why hasn't this guy caught a ban yet for how he talks to others? I caught a ban once for saying someone "may be the idiot he was referring to others as" yet this guy has called multiple people douche bags and idiots on multiple threads and is still doing so and caught nothing. Let's see some equality refs. Even his own thread doesn't respect him much.

Ek defunded the blog police.

You could be right. I'm just thinking that the Oilers have been pretty easy to play against. Kane can skate with McDavid, score and add some sandpaper to that line. This really helps keeping Drai on his own line. Helps with the depth throughout the lineup. Now the Oilers just need a team to terminate the contract of a decent goalie. That would be great haha.

A lot has been said about Kane, and he definitely deserves some of it. But some of the accusations have never come to light. Its not like he's a Virtanen. What we know is he lied about his vax and gambled. He hasn't been good in the rooms he has been in. Those are what we know. If the Oilers get a guy who finally realizes he needs to be better with that poop then its a great add. If not, he isn't around very long. I don't mind that gamble.
- doon

Where is the proof he isn't as bad as Virtanen? Virtanen has 1 accused case. Kane has 4.Virtanen has 1 currently active, Kane has 1 unsettled case from what I have seen. Because someone has been accused 4 times and not yet found guilty makes them more innocent than someone accused once and not yet found guilty makes them a lesser criminal?

Ek defunded the blog police.
- HenryHockey

There is no way Ek's right hand men have been defunded.

Where is the proof he isn't as bad as Virtanen? Virtanen has 1 accused case. Kane has 4.Virtanen has 1 currently active, Kane has 1 unsettled case from what I have seen. Because someone has been accused 4 times and not yet found guilty makes them more innocent than someone accused once and not yet found guilty makes them a lesser criminal?
- wreckage

Really? (to the bold) You got that poop backwards. Unsettled case? Everything I have read is that there is no evidence in anything. Virtanen has been charged. I don't like throwing around accusations like that over hearsay. There is enough evidence on Virtanen that he was charged. Kane hasn't been charged with anything. Kane has full custody of his daughter. I cant see that happening if there was anything to the poop you're talking about.

Really? (to the bold) You got that poop backwards. Unsettled case? Everything I have read is that there is no evidence in anything. Virtanen has been charged. I don't like throwing around accusations like that over hearsay. There is enough evidence on Virtanen that he was charged. Kane hasn't been charged with anything.
- doon

I just hope the Oilers sign him long term. Kane might be able to fool them for a few months but over a few years, he'll destroy them !

Really? (to the bold) You got that poop backwards. Unsettled case? Everything I have read is that there is no evidence in anything. Virtanen has been charged. I don't like throwing around accusations like that over hearsay. There is enough evidence on Virtanen that he was charged. Kane hasn't been charged with anything. Kane has full custody of his daughter. I cant see that happening if there was anything to the poop you're talking about.
- doon

Search his history online. 1 got wiped because the victim would not testify. 2nd got wiped because he had no history so the judge said "keep a clean record for 6 months and this charge will be ex-communicated." Another case vs Kane is still pending. His 4th was vs his wife.

The case vs Virtanen has not found him guilty yet. he has not been charged. He has charges pressed and going to court. Charges are pending. You are not charged until found guilty.

Either way, as a business that is supposed to represent the community... I would not employ either of these guys.