Latest on Evander Kane, Cody Franson and Matt Beleskey. Enjoy!
Kane on the outs with the Jets?
Are Evander Kane’s days with the Jets numbered?
SPORTSNET: Chris Johnston reports Winnipeg Jets winger Evander Kane failed to show for the club’s recent game against the Canucks in Vancouver following an incident with his teammates. While originally reported that Kane was a healthy scratch as a “coach’s decision”, sources claim he had a run-in with his teammates earlier in the day after joining them for a meeting wearing a track suit, a violation of the club’s dress code. Following a brief workout, teammate Dustin Byfuglien threw Kane’s clothes in the shower to send a message to the winger. Kane subsequently wasn’t on the team bus to Rogers Arena and missed a pregame meeting. The next time he was seen by his teammates was on the club’s charter flight back to Winnipeg. It’s also believed Kane has been playing through an injury, one which could require season-ending surgery.
Johnston subsequently tweets: “Surveyed some NHL scouts and feeling is that price on Evander Kane has dropped. One top asset could be enough to land him from #NHLJets.” His colleague John Shannon tweets: “Jets announce Kane was meeting with team doctors…Told by Jets’ source “Still many moving parts. Nothing imminent.”
TSN’s Darren Dreger tweets: “Many questions around Evander Kane and the Jets. Some medical issues to be resolved, but teams are calling and Jets are listening…hard.” Colleague Pierre LeBrun adds: “Further to @DarrenDreger‘s tweet, also hearing Jets taking calls on Evander Kane. Big name to have on trade market for sure.”
NBC SPORTS: Mike Halford reports Kane met today with team doctors and his status remains to be determined. Halford notes if Kane is seriously hurt it’ll throw cold water upon the trade rumors which have cropped up in the wake of his apparent fallout with his teammates.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: If Kane must undergo surgery, and it could be related to his knee injury earlier in the season, we can shut down the trade speculation until June, when it almost certainly will resurface with a vengeance. Regardless of whether the Jets make the playoffs or not, Kane could be a goner in the offseason. GM Kevin Cheveldayoff is patient to a fault but even this incident could be the last straw for him.
Beleskey on the block?
NBC SPORTS: Mike Halford cites a reports by Sportsnet’s Nick Kypreos claiming the Anaheim Ducks aren’t even close to a deal with pending UFA forward Matt Beleskey, adding there’s talk the Ducks could move him. Beleskey has tallied a career-high 19 goals this season, second only to Corey Perry. He’s currently earning $1.35 million per season.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: As Halford notes, the concern for the Ducks is they’ve got to look long term, as they’ve got a number of key players (Ryan Kesler, Sami Vatanen, Hampus Lindholm, Francois Beauchemin, Kyle Palmieri, Rickard Rickell, Devante Smith-Pelly, Jakub Silfverberg and Frederik Andersen) eligible for UFA or RFA status between now and 2016. If Beleskey seeks more than, say, $2.5 million per season, the Ducks could consider moving him. There are reports suggesting they could load up for a Cup run this spring by pursuing a top defenseman with a right-handed shot. Beleskey could become trade bait for such a player.
Where will Franson go?
SPORTSNET: Scott Lewis lists the Dallas Stars, Los Angeles Kings, Anaheim Ducks, Detroit Red Wings and San Jose Sharks as possible trade destinations for Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Cody Franson.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: If the Leafs, as rumor has it, are shopping players only to Western Conference clubs that will rule out the Red Wings. I suggest adding the Colorado Avalanche to that list.
Oh some afternoon delight for us Hockey fans. Thanks Lyle.
If the Ducks let it be known that Beleskey is available at the trade deadline (or before!) he might be perceived as the hottest commodity on the block by some. But just because he has 19 goals in 50 games so far this year is no reason to suddenly look upon him as an answer to some team’s goal-scoring problems. Prior to this his best season was in 2009-10 when he had 11 goals in 60 games. Playing with the likes of Getzlaf and Perry will do that for you and in that regard he may be just another David Clarkson looking to cash in on one good season. At $1.9 mil now, how much is he going to want in the off-season?
I believe that he was a healthy scratch a couple of weeks ago despite leading the team in goals at the time.
He was … big proceed with caution tag on this guy imo Clowe Malone Clarkson ish
Atlanta Thrashers did the same thing to Kane that they did to Bogo – played him in the NHL when they should have stayed in juniors. Neither were ready at 18 and both have taken some time to come around. Glad to see Bogo has, Kane still selfish and immature. Glad to hear Buf too a lead roll and tossed his clothes in the shower. Gotta believe the asking price on Kane has dropped, the kind of distraction the Jets do not need at this time.
Buf took a lead role
Jets should move Kane and Enstrom to Anaheim for Beleskey plus another forward.
They do that and Winnipeg gets hosed.
Better off to have traded Kane early and now might be too late. Not very mature for 24 years old . Has to leave town but the ” injury ” will complicate things.
Wouldnt surprise me to see him shut down for the year with surgery and put on ltir just to put out the fire for now….let it cool off a bit or Chevy is going to get hosed ina deal.
Where’s Bruce? There’s Duck talkin bein done here 🙂 If I was a GM I’d be tempted to trade for Kane even if he is injured. He’ll recover and still be strong. If I’m the Jets I trade him to one of the worst teams in the league. Maybe he’d like Buffalo, Edmonton or Carolina. All those teams have pieces they could send to Winnipeg to help them in the short term and the long term. I know the league leaders are all sexy to suggest but I don’t know that I’d be doing Kane that kind of favour.
Bruce (if that’s his real name) only shows up when there’s no Ducks news so he can scream “Bias!” I’m sure we’ll see him again someday when the Ducks aren’t in the news. That’s how that troll rolls.
Would love to see Franson on the Sharks, what is the suspected asking price? Considering he may be a playoff rental?