Although the San Jose Sharks have just made the move to get Evander Kane, it won’t be long before they’ll need to make more decisions on their splashy trade-deadline acquisition.
Kane is set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, and if the Sharks are going to want to make the 26-year-old anything more than just a relatively expensive rental, they’ll likely have to begin thinking contract extension with him.
On this matter, however, it appears Kane hasn’t given it too much thought yet.
“We haven’t talked about it. I really haven’t thought about it much,” Kane said on Sportsnet 650’s On Point program Monday, just a few hours after getting traded to San Jose. “I’m just trying to take it one step at a time here, get on the ice, hopefully tomorrow night, and just start playing hockey.”
Even though Kane hasn’t thought about too much, the Sharks probably did before they pulled the trigger on the deal with the Buffalo Sabres. Kane didn’t come cheap, with the Sharks sending a conditional first-round pick, a conditional fourth-round pick and an AHL prospect back to Buffalo in the deal.
According to The Athletics’ Sharks beat reporter Kevin Kurz, San Jose GM Doug Wilson wasn’t in the market for just short-term rentals, so it’s likely extension talks between Kane and the Sharks will heat up.
With that said, Kane’s agent has reportedly said both sides aren’t in any hurry to talk extension yet.
Kane has 20 goals and 40 points in 61 games played with the Sabres this season. He’s expected to make his Sharks debut Tuesday against the Edmonton Oilers in San Jose.
Listen to On Point’s full interview with Kane below:
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