We are 20 days out until the NHL trade deadline, and the Sabres appear to be buyers.
Chicago Blackhawk and future hall of fame inductee Patrick Kane is rumored to be on the move. The Sabres should not trade for the Buffalo-born right winger.
The New York Rangers were a top landing spot for Kane, but since they nabbed Vladimir Tarasanko, the door is now open for the rest of the league.
The 34-year-old year is on the last year of his $10.5 million contract and will be an unrestricted free agent in the summer. While the Sabres have the salary cap space, it is not worth the assets to trade for a rental of this caliber.
Kane this year
Kane has played in 46 games this year and has only accumulated nine goals and 26 assists. He is on the Blackhawk’s top line alongside Tyler Johnson and Jason Dickenson. While those line-mates are subpar at best, Kane is still seeing nearly 20 minutes a night. To put his points in perspective, Casey Mittelstadt has 7 goals and 21 assists while only averaging 15 minutes a game. Fans have sent flack toward him all year, yet his stat line is so similar to Kane’s.
Chicago has lost most of its firepower from their glory days a few years back. They currently sit one point ahead of Columbus for the worst record in the NHL. It’s expected that both Jonathan Toews and Kane will be shipped out before the March 3 deadline.
While he is not the player he was a few years ago, but he is still a top-six forward in the NHL. He would help the offensive output of the second line, and unlock some more scoring out of Cozens and Quinn/Peterka. That line needs some consistent scoring and Kane would definitely be a great short-term fix.
But is he worth what would be given up and all that comes with it?
What a trade will look like
The Blackhawks are amidst a rebuild and will be asking for picks alongside a prospect or two. If the Sabres wanted Kane, they would have to give up a first-rounder this year alongside a prospect or two.
This is way too much for Buffalo to give up for a guaranteed 3-months of Patrick Kane. Even if they were to resign him, his production will only decline as he reaches the wrong side of 35.
The Sabres already have a logjam of forward prospects, and Kane will be taking a roster spot and ice time away from one of the Sabres’ young guns.
Jack Quinn or J.J. Peterka would be pushed down the lineup for him to see the ice. The first powerplay would get a boost from having Kane on it. Cozens will be the guy sent down to the second unit.
Why a Kane trade is bad idea
By sticking to just on-the-ice issues, adding Kane would be a big risk by messing with what has been working this year. The team’s culture has taken a massive step in the past year. The team’s young players have stepped up immensely in turning the organization around, and I think it would looking to the past to bring in the former first overall pick.
Kane would also be taking critical ice time away from a young player who would benefit drastically from it. Getting more than 10 minutes a night and seeing the ice on the man advantage will improve the development of the younger guys.
He just is not the player he was a few years ago, and overpaying for him because he was born in Buffalo doesn’t make sense. Kane would help with scoring outside of the first line, but ice time for other guys is more important at this stage of things.
Where to go from here
I’m not saying the Sabres have to stay silent on the trade front. I would love for some help on the backend or a forward at the right price. But overpaying for 34-year-old Patrick Kane is not the right move for the direction of this franchise.
If the Sabres want to give themselves the best shot at continued success past this season, they should steer clear of a trade for Kane, and look to add some depth elsewhere before the deadline.
2 Responses
I agree! We need D help especially one who can take control of our blueline taking pressure off our goalies & wins faceoffs plus accurate passing AND someone who forechecks & is not an expensive cap hit .. Schenn makes sense as he fits all the above and more. Meier maybe but Schenn would be a help & an inexpensive acquire.
I totally agree Kane is not an answer for Buffalo. Yes we might have to give up something to improve but that is the name of the game but I think Sabres are intent on looking for players who fit into the Team mentality and culture. Kane is a primadonna. Lots to shop for but Kevin Adams is being very cautious not to destroy what has been built to date.