NHL Reporter Urges Red Wings to Trade Stanley Cup Champion, Maple Leafs Must Act Now
The Toronto Maple Leafs have a prime opportunity to add one of the greatest players of the last decade in Patrick Kane after the Red Wings are moving into a new era.
Brad Treliving's insistence that a trade is going to happen has led to rampant speculation about who could potentially be brought aboard. Will he go for a cheap option, or will he break the bank and try to find that elite player to push them forward?
Either way, there are a ton of options available. But according to The Hockey News' Adam Proteau, Detroit's Patrick Kane should be available thanks to the coaching change the Red Wings recently went through:
His salary cap hit of $4 million makes him an affordable option for teams seeking depth and playoff experience, and the most he can likely get for Yzerman on the trade block is a mid-tier draft pick or slightly above-average prospect.
It's not a fairytale ending for Kane in Detroit, but considering the poor way things have unfolded for Kane and the Wings, an end to their time together is probably the best way to move forward."
Patrick Kane Could Be Toronto's Playoff Problem Solver
If there's anyone you want to bring aboard for a long playoff push it's a three-time Stanley Cup Champion. Kane is no stranger to the pressure of the postseason and Toronto would benefit immensely and also for a pretty decent cost.
While not the superstar he once was, the 36-year old Kane is still one of the NHL's greatest players over the last decade and a half. With 478 goals and 823 assists in 1262 games, he not only brings invaluable experience but a treasure trove of accolades.
Here is a potential lineup with Kane in the lineup:
Knies -- Matthews -- Kane
Pacioretty -- Tavares -- Marner
McMann -- Domi -- Nylander
Lorentz -- Kampf -- Reaves
Toronto would be able to spread their depth a bit more throughout their lineup and also allows Toronto to split up Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews; allowing them to take charge of their own offense.
A Calder, Conn Smythe, Art Ross, Hart, and Lester B. Pearson award winner, Kane is one of the greatest American-born players ever. He ranks third all-time with 1301 points, and sits only 91 points back of Brett Hull for most all-time, and with another couple of productive seasons he could get there.
Also an interesting factor is that former teammate Jonathan Toews is looking to make a comeback and Toronto could use a center of his caliber. A reuniting of Toews and Kane to make the Maple Leafs a playoff force to be reckoned with is a pipedream but it has some basis in reality.
Also not the most expensive option at $4M a year, Kane is a free agent at the end of the season and wouldn't cost too much to bring aboard, and is a small cost to have him on their roster.
Toronto has to make a move soon, and Detroit is undergoing a new change not only with their head coach but with their mentality. If Kane doesn't fit, he certainly has a suitor willing to bring him into the blue and white.
