11°c A few clouds
18°c Sunny
Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Kane ponders six-year, $29-M deal from Jets
Evander Kane (CP)
Just 24 players in the NHL scored more goals than Evander Kane last season and the Winnipeg Jets have placed a premium value on his services, offering him a rich and long-term contract.
Kane and his representatives are mulling over a six-year deal in the neighbourhood of $29 million as negotiations between the two sides have ramped up.
It's swap-proposal time in the Kane talks and unless someone digs in their heels, an agreement should be reached. Talks to this point have been productive with both sides proving to be creative and flexible in order to get an agreement that works for everyone.
Kane is just shy of his 21st birthday and notched 30 goals and 27 assists for 57 points last season. The chance for financial security a deal like this provides can't be ignored. Any agent will tell you that kind of money can't be passed up by a player so young.
Generational money has to be snatched when available.
For the Jets, this puts their most promising prospect in the stable for a long time. If Kane continues to develop and grow, they could have a 50-goal man in the near future.
Kane is brash and at times stubborn but he craves superstardom and wants to be among the league's best. He has the talent and will to be elite. No one should be surprised if he turns out to be a consistent all-star.
The Jets must protect and guard him for as long as they can.
There will be a day when Kane is free to test the open market and there's a good chance he'll be very expensive. Putting that day off for as long as possible only makes sense.
This deal goes a long way to protecting the future, which is key to the philosophy among Jets management.
The Kane deal confirms and is in line with Winnipeg's strategy. Develop their own players and lock them up long term at the cusp of their prime.
The next 12 months will see more and more of this as GM Kevin Cheveldayoff attempts to get Blake Wheeler, Bryan Little, Zach Bogosian and Toby Enstrom in similar deals.
For Jets fans, the prospect of having already committed to Andrew Ladd and Ondrej Pavelec, as well as Kane and the rest of this group all inked to four- or five-year deals, should provide smiles. If these players continue to grow and improve, Cheveldayoff will have some kind of hockey team on his hands in two or three years.
Patience has already proven a strength among Jets management even if it's confounding to fans at times. But the payoff shouldn't be that far down the road if Cheveldayoff can stick to the plan and execute.
Kane is another of these stepping stones for Cheveldayoff, but momentum appears to be building in Winnipeg's favour. Players like to be part of something when they can see progress and commitment from management.
Same goes for the folks in the seats.
Getting Kane done long-term sends a message to the ticket-buying public but it also reverberates within the dressing room.
It's fine to talk about the future but sooner or later it has to arrive. A long-term Kane contract gets the Jets one large step closer.
gary.lawless@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @garylawless
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition July 24, 2012 D1
More Columnists
- Back to Top
- Return to Columnists
About Gary Lawless
Gary Lawless is the Free Press sports columnist and co-host of the Hustler and Lawless show on TSN 1290 Winnipeg and www.winnipegfreepress.com
Lawless began covering sports as a rookie reporter at The Chronicle-Journal in Thunder Bay after graduating from journalism school at Durham College in Ontario.
After a Grey Cup winning stint with the Toronto Argonauts in the communications department, Lawless returned to Thunder Bay as sports editor.
In 1999 he joined the Free Press and after working on the night sports desk moved back into the field where he covered pro hockey, baseball and football beats prior to being named columnist.
Poll
Most Popular Columnists
- Burmistrov wants out of Winnipeg
- Political opportunity knocks to abolish Senate
- Harper needs to quit hiding behind his staff
- Tell the building manager and the peep show will end
- Big Blue will have one helluva punter
- A new mom's booze-fuelled hell
- Japan's PM risks bankruptcy
- Tick season means pets at risk of Lyme disease
- Tell your dad what you think
- Invite your wife along on your nudist outings
- A new mom's booze-fuelled hell
- Katz bogeys again
- Burmistrov wants out of Winnipeg
- 'It's a beautiful story': There's not always a tomorrow to say you're sorry or make things right
- Political opportunity knocks to abolish Senate
- Tell husband you're not talking to her... maybe tell him why
- Big Blue will have one helluva punter
- Burke will be back; he's just that good
- Mount Carmel Clinic: An oasis of acceptance in a judgmental world
- New Blue stadium lives up to the hype; now it's up to you
- Goodbye, Susan; a privilege to know you
- Twins are theirs, but province doesn't agree
- Bun Brouhaha: Kitchen staff's snap firing worthy of reality TV
- Beloved piece of Winnipeg's music history deserves better
- A new mom's booze-fuelled hell
- Facebook pokes Manitoba
- Katz bogeys again
- Dugouts could change the game
- Winter is coming
- Burmistrov wants out of Winnipeg
- Harper needs to quit hiding behind his staff
- More than a new boss
- Tick season means pets at risk of Lyme disease
- Burmistrov wants out of Winnipeg
- 'It's a beautiful story': There's not always a tomorrow to say you're sorry or make things right
- New Blue stadium lives up to the hype; now it's up to you
- Late deal in workplace sex-harassment case
- A new mom's booze-fuelled hell
- Explore Desire seminars to 'push the boundaries'
- Tick season means pets at risk of Lyme disease
- Going gluten-free doesn't mean giving up foods you love
- Cancer doesn't care who it may kill
- Tapping sweetness from birch trees
- Mount Carmel Clinic: An oasis of acceptance in a judgmental world
- Twins are theirs, but province doesn't agree
- 'It's a beautiful story': There's not always a tomorrow to say you're sorry or make things right
- Bun Brouhaha: Kitchen staff's snap firing worthy of reality TV
- Dugouts could change the game
- Happily selling shoes at age 89
- Facebook pokes Manitoba
- White sucker right for Manitoba
- New Blue stadium lives up to the hype; now it's up to you
- Selinger's ability to sell case weak link in tax-hike plan
- Emotional roller-coaster
Ads by Google
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.
Have Your Say
New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.