Jets’ Kane Suspended, Complicates His Future

Winnipeg Jets forward Evander Kane was hit with a two game ban.  Now that concerns with Kane have spilled on to the ice, does this change his future with the team?

Evander Kane was suspended for two games today by the NHL Department of Player Safety for an illegal check from behind. Kane blasted Anaheim Ducks defenseman Clayton Stoner into the boards and, as you will see in the video below from prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com, it was not a difficult decision.

Kane had this hit lined up from nearly half way across the ice and could have pulled up at any point and avoided direct contact to the number. Instead his first suspension seems to just add to already lingering concerns with the 23 year old forward.

The former fourth overall pick from 2009 has boasted about his ability and belief he can score 50 goals. And he certainly seems to like Instagram, push-ups and large stacks of cash though not necessarily in that order. His suspension should make those push-ups a little easier.

I wonder how much more Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff is going to take from his young enigma. There have been reports of tension between the Jets and Kane over the last year, such as this one from 2013. Add to that the social media antics and it brings a laser focus on what is the biggest issue for Kane: his lack of production when compared to his perceived talent.

Last season Kane put up a mere 41 points in 63 games, and has already missed time this season with a right knee injury which was fortunately not serious. But 10 points in the 20 games he has played is just flat out not good enough. And you don’t normally see top end talent suspended for hits like this.

According to capgeek.com Kane has three more years on his current deal at $5.25 million per year. In a time when the salary cap could potentially be stagnant or moving down next season, that number becomes a lot harder to move should Cheveldayoff decide to move on from Kane. The Jets as a team have been bad since relocating from Atlanta and have missed the playoffs the last three years.

Kane certainly has the talent to be a part of the solution. And at 23 years old there is still plenty of career in front of him to figure out how to be an elite goal scorer in the league. But this is also his sixth professional season. How much longer is he going to take to figure out what he needs to do to be successful? Is this who he is going to be for his entire career?

I think it’s unfair to label Kane a bust at this point. But with this suspension piled on top of his past concerns it’s important for the Jets to proceed with caution. Winning fixes everything and Kane’s individual results improving will go a long way in propelling the Jets to greater success.

But if this is going to be a rebuild over time will Kane be a part of it? Will he want to be? This suspension will certainly turn more league and fan eyes on him. How Kane responds for the balance of this season will go a long way in shaping the future of the Jets and himself.