Evander Kane will have to do more than show the money for his new team the Buffalo Sabres who traded for the disgruntled former Winnipeg Jet in a blockbuster deal.
http://www.winnipegsun.com/Getty Images

On the same day they dealt goalie Jhonas Enroth to the Stars for Anders Lindback and a conditional pick, the Sabres rolled the dice gambling on Evander Kane. In what amounted to a blockbuster trade, Buffalo sent Tyler Myers, Drew Stafford, prospects Brendan Lemieux, Joel Armia and a 2015 first round pick to Winnipeg in exchange for Kane, Zach Bogosian and unsigned goalie prospect Jason Kasdorf.

A trade involving seven players is very hard to digest. No matter the teams involved, it is ballsy. I guess that isn’t a problem for Buffalo GM Tim Murray. Following the disturbing back story to Kane missing a game for Winnipeg due to violating team policy by wearing a tracksuit to a meeting which led to Dustin Byfuglien tossing it in a shower, Murray still decided to acquire the controversial 23-year old injured power forward. Despite questionable character off the ice, Kane played a majority of this season with a shoulder injury that required season-ending shoulder surgery which he had earlier this week.

Despite his talent which got him drafted by the former Thrashers fourth overall in the 2009 Draft, Kane was playing on the third line under veteran coach Paul Maurice. Even though the former 30-goalscorer wasn’t getting ideal minutes, he still had 10 goals and 12 assists for 22 points with 56 penalty minutes and 119 hits in 37 contests. When the franchise relocated to Winnipeg, he wasn’t popular with fans. Part of it could be due to his off-ice shenanigans which included a selfie he took of himself with wads of cash outside a Vegas room. The latest incident was apparently the tip of the iceberg. He wasn’t popular with teammates, who openly criticized him.

“There’s definitely a lot more to it than some of the funny story lines that came out,” Kane told TSN’s Pierre LeBrun. “Sometimes you have to just let a story die and I guess that’s what we’ll do. But it was definitely disappointing with how everything shook out and some of the information was misconstrued, misleading, some of the facts kind of came out wrong or didn’t come out at all. That’s to be expected.”

“Just looking at next year, they’re going to get a top pick and that’s exciting,” Kane added. “Just to have one of those two guys [Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel] maybe to play with next year, plus the other young players on that team.”

“It’s nice to go somewhere where you feel wanted and you feel that they want to put you in a situation to have success.”

That last quote is particularly telling. It was obvious for some time that Kane’s days were numbered in Winnipeg. Even before the latest news came out, his name had been rumored for a couple of years. For his Jets career, he totaled 109 goals, 113 assists and 222 points in 361 games. Kane is making $6 million per season on a contract that runs through 2017-18. The contract averages a cap hit of $5.25 million.

In order for such a trade to be made, the Sabres parted with former first round pick Myers. After winning the Calder Trophy in ’09-10 with 11 goals, 37 assists and 48 points, expectations increased for the 25-year old Houston native who eventually signed a seven-year extension worth $38.5 million. He never quite fulfilled expectations with his production suffering. After scoring nine times with 13 assists in ’13-14, Myers has four goals and nine assists with 61 penalty minutes in 47 games this season. There are four years remaining at an average cap hit of $5.5 million. He finishes his Sabres career with 45 goals, 106 assists and 151 points in 365 games.

The Jets also received Stafford, who is in the final year of a deal that pays him $4 million. The Sabres will pick up half the remaining contract with Stafford eligible to turn unrestricted this summer. The 29-year old Stafford was drafted by Buffalo in the first round of the 2004 Draft. He had a solid career as a second liner. Three times, he scored at least 20 goals with a career best 31 along with 52 points and 11 power play goals in ’10-11. In 45 games this season, he has nine goals and 15 assists. Stafford finishes his Sabres career with 145 goals, 177 assists and 322 points in 563 games.

In exchange for Myers, the Sabres received Bogosian. A former third overall selection of the Thrashers in 2008, the rugged 24-year old Massena, New York native returns home to play for Buffalo. More of a defensive defenseman who gives an honest effort, Bogosian has five years remaining on a deal that pays him an average cap hit of $5.143 million. He’s signed through 2018-19 and is earning $5.25 million this season. In 41 contests for Winnipeg, he has three goals, 10 assists and 40 penalty minutes.

“I’m happy. I believe in these players. I think they make us a better organization and a better team…these guys are hard to get,” Murray said of his new acquisitions. He parted with the last of the Sabres’ three first round picks in this year’s draft. He also took a risk dealing away 2014 second rounder Lemieux, who has 35 goals and 15 assists with 120 penalty minutes for the Barrie Colts of the OHL. If he pans out, that could be a steal for Winnipeg. Former Buffalo 2011 first rounder Armia was included. The 21-year old Finn has only played in one NHL game and has 10 goals and 25 assists for Rochester of the AHL.

The final part of the deal is Kasdorf. He’s 22 and was taken by Winnipeg in the sixth round of the 2011 Draft. A 6-4, 195 pound goalie from Manitoba, he’s starred for R.P.I. in the ECAC for three years. In ’12-13, Kasdorf went 14-5-2 with a 1.62 goals-against-average, .935 save percentage and three shutouts as a freshman. After missing most of ’13-14, he’s appeared in 23 games posting a 9-14-0 record with a 2.94 GAA, .900 save percentage and a shutout.

Considering that Murray got very little back for Enroth leaving the number one job to Michael Neuvirth, he better hope Kasdorf turns into something. Murray must still sign him. A must considering how unstable the Sabres’ goaltending situation is. Unless Matt Hackett suddenly figures it out, Buffalo doesn’t have much of a goalie plan. Who knows? Maybe they’ll trade for or sign current Ranger Cam Talbot. He’s signed for one more year and can turn unrestricted the following summer.

So, who won the trade? That can’t be answered right away. If you want to go based on the current season with Winnipeg chasing the playoffs, it looks like the Jets should win early. They’re currently fourth in the Central Division with 66 points and are the first wildcard five points up on second wildcard Vancouver and seven up on Minnesota with Los Angeles eight back. Adding a depth forward in Stafford and a top four defenseman in Myers should aid their chances. Considering they also got Lemieux and a first round pick, the Jets made out extremely well.

For the Sabres, it’s all about Kane. If he can repair his image and mature as a player, then the sky’s the limit. He’s a player capable of averaging 30 goals and at least 60 points with power potential. Don’t forget he’ll be returning from shoulder surgery. This is a player who’s never played a full 82 games in a season. They need Kane to flourish.

They also exchanged Myers for Bogosian. Two different style defensemen. You can argue that Myers has more talent and you wouldn’t be wrong. The Sabres went for a more hard nosed defenseman who plays the position well. It could work out in their favor. However, so much depends on Kane and whether Kasforf pans out.

Murray is gambling that this move will solidify the Sabres’ future. With either Connor McDavid or Jack Eichel on the horizon barring something unforeseen, Buffalo has a bright future. Don’t forget former 2014 first overall pick Sam Reinhart. With the future solidified including J.T. Compher, Hudson Fasching, Jake McCabe, and current NHLers Zemgus Girgensons, Rasmus Ristolainen and Nikita Zadorov, there’s plenty for Sabres fans to be excited about. Now if former first rounder Mikhail Grigorenko can figure it out, they sure are set up.

With the latest fire sale underway, is Chris Stewart next? He’s unrestricted this summer and has turned his season around. The 27-year old has nine goals and 13 assists in 53 games. Teams that can use size might come calling. The Rangers could be one of them. The trade deadline is March 2.