The Colorado Avalanche are humming along this season. That’s hardly news anymore. The league has gotten so accustomed to seeing the Avs dominate that it’s not surprising in the least bit.
Just look at the lineup. It’s become a modern-day Murderer’s Row. Coach Jared Bednar can throw four effective lines over the boards night after night.
But then again, every contending club could use a little extra help now and then. That could be the case of the Avalanche. As the animal spirits seem poised to return to the NHL trade market, the Avs would do well to look into available players leading up to the trade deadline.
One such player the Avalanche should at least kick the tires on is Vancouver Canucks veteran forward Evander Kane. The 34-year-old is in the final year of his current deal. He comes with a $5 million cap hit, but could provide a jolt for the Avalanche.
The cost of acquiring Kane shouldn’t be prohibitive. After all, the Canucks landed him for just a fourth-round pick this past offseason. While Vancouver would like to maximize their return for Kane, they must also be realistic. Likely, the Canucks would like to get something back to help their rebuild. Nevertheless, that shouldn’t discourage the Avalanche from kicking the tires on Kane.
How Kane fits into Avalanche lineup
Evander Kane really isn’t a top-six NHL forward anymore. While he may have one last hurrah left in him, his days as an effective scorer are likely done.
That being said, Kane could deliver depth scoring while adding plenty of grit and pugnacity to the lineup. Therein lies the key to Kane’s landing in Colorado. The Avalanche could use some more punch in the lineup.
Kane is the sort of forward who thrives in the playoffs. He can grind with the best of them. Most importantly, he can take some of the pressure off Colorado’s top players. Kane could be a fit on the Avalanche’s third line. However, he seems a likelier fit on the checking line.
Sure, paying that much for a fourth-liner might seem over the top. But then again, if the Canucks retain 50% on Kane’s cap hit for the remainder of this season, the math might work for the Avalanche. At say, $2.6 million, Kane might not seem so expensive at all.
There’s one other thing to keep in mind. Adding a veteran forward like Kane offers Bednar flexibility. While Zakhar Bardakov and Gavin Brindley have been good this season, come playoff time, Bednar might want a more veteran presence to round out the lineup. That’s why Kane could be a valuable alternative for the Avalanche.
Ultimately, landing Evander Kane may be a little too much for the Avalanche this season. But at the right price point, the veteran winger could be a solid addition for the Avs. The club would be remiss if they didn’t at least kick the tires on Kane.