It isn’t even July 1st and one of this summer’s biggest free agents is already off the open market. It was announced today that Evander Kane and the San Jose Sharks are closing in on a seven-year contract worth $7 million annually.
As has been reported, expect Evander Kane’s 7 yr, $49 million dollar contract with the Sharks to get done as early as today.
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) May 23, 2018
Kane was acquired by San Jose in a trade with the Buffalo Sabres at the trade deadline in what was perceived to be a rental deal. The trade had a condition that the Sharks would give the Sabres a first-round pick in 2019 if Kane re-signed, so this is good news for Buffalo.
The Sharks acquired Kane as an addition for the team’s playoff push. They swept through the Anaheim Ducks easily in the first round but then got dropped by the Vegas Golden Knights in the second round. Still, Kane had a strong showing. It was the first time he had played in the playoffs in his NHL career and he produced four goals in nine games. The Sharks figured Kane’s gritty and physical style was ideal for the playoff grind.
With Kane getting a long-term and expensive deal, it’s reasonable to assume Joe Thornton’s days in San Jose are over. Jumbo Joe inked a one-year deal to stick around with the Sharks last summer but it seems likely that he’ll move on this summer much like his friend Patrick Marleau did in 2017. The Sharks now have Kane, Brent Burns, Marc-Edouard Vlasic, and goaltender Martin Jones signed for the next seven seasons.
Another thing to consider in regards to this Kane contract is what it means for the rest of the free agent market. If Evander Kane is being paid $7 million annually, how much will John Tavares, a much, much better player command? Surely at least $10 million per year.
