NHL Trade Grade: San Jose Sharks assume little risk with Evander Kane

The San Jose Sharks got Evander Kane for an extremely reasonable price at the NHL trade deadline while the Buffalo Sabres have to be disappointed with their return

Perhaps no playoff contender in the NHL needed to address scoring more than the San Jose Sharks. On paper, they came into the trade deadline ranked 15th out of 31 teams. But in reality, the Sharks needed a boost in a big way. They got one by trading for Buffalo Sabres forward Evander Kane.

The Sharks gave up surprisingly little for him, especially given some of the outrageous prices that were paid this year. San Jose gave up a 2019 conditional second-round pick (becomes a first rounder if they re-sign him), a conditional 2019 fourth-round pick (have the option of keeping it or it becomes a 2020 third-round pick), and prospect Dan O’Reagan.

Let’s take a look at how the two sides did in the trade.

Sharks

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This is a remarkable trade by San Jose. They probably benefitted from Kane’s negative reputation around the league. To be fair, it’s probably warranted, as Evander has been at the center of several off the ice incidents. But because Kane’s a rental, the Sharks assume very little risk short-term.

Even if San Jose re-signs Kane (which is a distinct possibility), giving up a first-rounder for him in 2019 is very reasonable. They assume a bit more risk in this scenario, but still, they gave up virtually nothing for him.

Kane should help the Sharks address their scoring woes. He slots in immediately on their first or second forward line. Kane’s speed and shooting make him a potential difference maker down the stretch for the Sharks.

This season, he has 20 goals and 20 assists for 40 points. Kane now has three straight seasons with at least 20 goals. Three of those goals have come short-handed, so the Sharks get a valuable penalty kill weapon. Kane has issues defensively, but San Jose has the defense necessary to overcome it.

Grade: A. The Sharks missed out on Rick Nash and Michael Grabner, but got a great consolation prize in Kane. Best of all, they avoided having to pay an outrageous price, which is more than can be said for most contenders who add a proven goal scorer.

Sabres

The Sabres at least got something for Kane. There’s something to be said for that. However, one can’t help but wonder how they didn’t get a concrete, guaranteed first-round pick for Kane. Even considering his previously mentioned bad reputation, it’s hard to imagine teams would be that scared off by a rental.

If Rick Nash can fetch a first-round pick, there’s no reason Kane shouldn’t have gotten the Sabres one as well. Even including Benoit Pouliot, who is at worst a serviceable depth forward, to get that first rounder would have been worth it. And the Sharks had been looking to get forward depth, as their acquisition of Eric Fehr proves.

Buffalo salvaged what could have been a trade deadline nightmare. At least they traded Kane for something, unlike the Detroit Red Wings who got nothing for Mike Green. But that’s a mighty low standard and there’s no grading on a curve here.

O’Reagan is by all accounts an organizational depth guy. With the Sabres, he might get some NHL time. But this is more telling of Buffalo’s lack of depth than anything else.

Next: 5 Trade Deadline Winners And Losers

Grade: C-. The Sabres had all the leverage and managed to lose all of it. Maybe Buffalo overvalued Kane a little bit. But that doesn’t excuse not getting a first-round pick for him. At the very least, the Sabres should have gotten a respectable young prospect instead of O’Reagan.

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