Pittsburgh Hockey Insider has no direct affiliation to the Pittsburgh Penguins, NHL or NHLPA
The price the Penguins would have to pay for Evander Kane has been revealed
Photo credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Evander Kane trade chatter just hit the Pittsburgh Penguins timeline, and the cost could be higher than a simple third-rounder.
A clip from Oilers Now has Elliotte Friedman suggesting Vancouver could land a mid-round pick, maybe a 3rd, if the Canucks retain salary.
The key word there is retain. That is the entire game.
Kane's season line sits at 9-15-24 in 52 games, the kind of "middle-six juice" contenders chase when the deadline creeps in.
Vancouver is sitting 17-31-5, so it makes sense they'd listen if they can turn a veteran into picks.
For the Penguins, the conversation starts with cap hit. Kane is a $5.125 million swing.
If Vancouver keeps a big chunk, Pittsburgh can offer the cleaner package. That usually means the pick climbs.
A true 50 percent retention can turn "maybe a 3rd" into a 2nd, or a 3rd plus a legit prospect, depending on the market.
Evander Kane and the Pittsburgh Penguins trade reality
Pens fans are hungry for edge and net-front chaos, but they also don't want to burn another pick on a short-term patch.
If Dubas pays only a 3rd, he likely has to take more of the cap hit, or accept Kane as a pure rental with no extra sweetener.
If Pittsburgh wants retention, Vancouver can ask for a better pick, or a young NHL-ready piece, because someone else will blink.
Other teams can get there too. Clubs with extra cap room can beat Pittsburgh by offering a higher pick without asking for money back.
Kane fits best next to a play-driving center, crashing the crease and living off rebounds, not floating for pretty looks.
The calendar matters. The Olympic roster freeze starts February 4, then the NHL trade deadline hits March 6.
If the Penguins want Kane, they probably need to act before the freeze squeezes the market tight.
Also read on HockeyUnplugged :
Pittsburgh Penguins forward is playing like a man possessed after life-changing personal news
Pittsburgh Penguins forward is playing like a man possessed after life-changing personal news
| POLL | ||
JANVIER 28|222 ANSWERS The price the Penguins would have to pay for Evander Kane has been revealed Should the Pittsburgh Penguins trade for Evander Kane? | ||
| Yes | 63 | 28.4 % |
| No | 159 | 71.6 % |
| List of polls | ||