The Daily: Evander Kane Scores 1st AHL goal; Trade on Horizon?

Discussion of the potential for Evander Kane to be traded has been upgraded from “no way” to “could happen.”

NHL teams are still very much concerned about his off-ice behavior, but some teams are entertaining the idea of trying to acquire him, if the Sharks will eat a portion of his contract.

San Jose Hockey Now wrote yesterday about Evander Kane scoring his first AHL goal. His San Jose Barracuda coach Roy Sommer, well-respected in the hockey community, said Kane “played great.”

It’s not as if teams don’t know what Kane can do. But several NHL teams have scouted him to determine if Kane’s conditioning and timing is where it needs to be.

Hockey Now reported that the Detroit Red Wings had a scout at Kane’s first AHL game, but Detroit Hockey Now could not confirm whether it was to look at Kane. The person could have been there for a completely different reason.  The Red Wings could use a scoring forward with size and bite, but Kane is 30. He has three seasons left on a contract.  This doesn’t seem like the kind of player acquisition GM Yzerman would make.

#ICYMI Are NHL Clubs Scouting the Sharks' Evander Kane? https://t.co/CFujqYi6Qg

— Spector's Hockey (@SpectorsHockey) December 16, 2021

Around the NHL

Detroit:  Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill said he trusts the medical consultants who decided it was safe for the Red Wings and Hurricanes to play Thursday. “I guess I’m relying on medical experts to say that it’s safe,”

Boston: With the Bruins overrun by COVID-19, Hockey Now’s Joe Haggerty says this is the perfect opportunity for the Bruins to give Jack Studnicka and extended opportunity.

Montreal: Hockey Now’s Jon Still says defenseman Jeff Petry is right when he says the Habs have no structure.Is that a dig at Dominique Ducharme

Vegas: You have to admire Chandler Stephenson. Chandler is playing as if he doesn’t plan to concede the No. 1 center role to Jack Eichel.

Tony DeAngelo was asked if the league needs to change anything with the protocols/with the Canes playing two skaters short/etc.:

"I'm gonna sit this one out, I'm probably the last person they want to hear from"

— Sara Civ (@SaraCivian) December 16, 2021