Huge If True: Will Canucks take on Evander Kane?

Last week in this space, we discussed whether the Vancouver Canucks would be able to trade for a scoring winger. Given the team’s need and its inexplicable pursuit of “playoffs at all costs,” it seemed quite likely that they’d be motivated.

At the time, though, the idea that Evander Kane would be the target was a little farfetched. It at least seemed like better options — or at least less controversial ones — would be readily available from places like Detroit.

However, the past several days seem to have changed all that.

Kane was arrested late last week for allegedly harassing three women, and potentially choking and pulling the hair of one of them. He has been charged with only one count of criminal trespass (for refusing to leave a bar) and four of non-criminal harassment. These are basically minor charges, but the court documents ain’t pretty.

It’s very possible that all this goes away (legally speaking) in a relatively short period of time, but it doesn’t mean the Buffalo Sabres may not now be more eager to part ways with the, umm, troubled winger now that this is becoming a pretty clear pattern. Even if he isn’t convicted — no charges were even filed following sexual assault accusations earlier this year — it’s probably a headache the Sabres just don’t want any more.

So the question is: Does Vancouver think the positives Kane brings to the ice outweigh the potential negatives in terms of bad publicity, cost to acquire, and so on?

Given what’s come out in the last week, the answer very well could be “yes.”

The Rumor
While the possibility of a Kane-to-Vancouver deal was being discussed online even before the actual arrest, that was part of the bigger, “Well, the Canucks need a winger and here’s who might be available” discussion. It has since become a little more laser-focused on Kane himself.

After all, Jim Benning said the Canucks “would be interested for sure,” if Kane had been available to them when he was still with Winnipeg. (And in saying that, he also avoided tampering charges for once!) At the time, Bob McKenzie thought the Canucks ought to have been frontrunners for his services. Kane of course went to Buffalo for what was likely a more attractive package than the Canucks would have offered, and that seemed to be that.

But one police investigation and one arrest later, and we’re right back where we started, except this time Benning has wised up and not said anything specific to the player in question.

That hasn’t stopped the Vancouver reporters from doing his work for him, though. Ben Kuzma — in being so caring as to throw in the word “enigma” about a man twice accused of physically attacking a woman twice in the last six months or so — said Kane is exactly the kind of player the Canucks might like to target. Oh and hey, did you know Kane is from Vancouver and played his junior hockey with the Giants?

With $3.4 million in cap space, there are safer and cheaper routes to travel in free agency, but the Canucks need to take a hard look at traveling the bold road. Trying to win and getting younger at the same time is a conundrum. For everything Kane has done wrong off the ice, he could be the right answer on it. He could help fill those empty Rogers Arena seats, and help propel the Canucks back to the playoffs.

That’s not the kind of thinking I’d want to put out there, but there’s no question Kane — when healthy and not getting accused of anything — helps you on the ice. Of course, “when healthy” may be the operative issue for Vancouver here, even more so than potential recidivism. Over the past three seasons he’s played just 165 games, but averages nearly 25 goals per 82 he plays during that time. Strong player, then, especially because the bulk of his scoring comes at 5-on-5 (38 of 49 goals).

Kuzma does, however, throw in a little more water-carrying, also noting:

“Whether Kane has a behavioural problem to the extent that the NHL could evoke disciplinary action, or demand counseling, you have to wonder how much of all this is a serious character flaw? Or, how much is it a result of being a talented, well-paid, fun-loving, stubborn and selfish athlete, with a skewed sense of professionalism?”

Yeah, not a fan of that excuse-making for a guy being accused of assault by multiple women in the calendar year. Especially to chalk it up to “being a talented, well-paid, fun-loving, stubborn and selfish athlete, with a skewed sense of professionalism.” That’s a ludicrously bad take, but one can likely be sure that front offices league-wide might have a similar opinion. Boys will be boys and all that, as long as it doesn’t make the club look bad. Or rather, as long as it doesn’t make the club look too bad.

Kuzma also points out, in a separate article a day later, that Vancouver has a recent history of dealing with troubled players. Of course, they dealt Zach Kassian rather than help him through what we now know was a substance abuse problem, and Montreal did the same thing. Edmonton claimed him off waivers, and he turned out to be a decent player for the Oilers in the second half of the season. Kuzma’s thinking here is that Kane — having now been arrested and charged for something — might have gotten a similar wake-up call.

Who’s Going Where?
Obviously the Canucks would be interested in a player like Kane, who might once again push 30 goals if he gets some bounces and stays healthy. But what would they have to give up? As discussed last week, maybe not a whole lot unless they’re really willing to mortgage the future in exchange for maybe making the playoffs again.

The good news is that Kane should be available at a cut rate. And the impetus to move him might, as reported by Vancouver radio yakker Matthew Sekeres reports, be increased if the Sabes can actually sign Jimmy Vesey on Aug. 15. (Don’t hold your breath!)

Hearing #Sabres willingness to deal Evander Kane (or the desired return if he is on the block) depends on whether Vesey signs. #Canucks

— Matthew Sekeres (@mattsekeres) July 23, 2016

So for now, it’s possible that nothing at all happens. If Vesey doesn’t go to Boston or Toronto in August, and instead lands in Buffalo, that could all change in a hurry.

The Implications

Ah but here’s a potential snag: Bob Marjanovich, another TSN 1040 host, said that all of this speculation might just be for fun. It’s possible that even with a Vesey signing, Kane doesn’t move. In fact, that may be exactly what the Sabres told Kane.

Moj: Talking to Kane this morning, once he heard the rumours floating around, they did phone the Sabres and were told he's not being moved.

— Ryan Henderson (@RJHenderson7) July 26, 2016

Again, who knows how much of these rumors are true? But the fact is that Kane is an attractive on-ice option who has long interested the Canucks. Are they willing to overlook the player’s troubles? Are they willing to pay the price the Sabres want? It’s tough to say.

Either way, we probably won’t know anything about these rumors for a few more weeks, pending a potential signing, pending a trial, etc.

This Is So Huge, If True: Is It True?
On a B.S. detector scale of 1-5, with one being the most reasonable and 5 being the least:

The Canucks trade for Evander Kane: