Kane awaiting green light

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This article was published 30/10/2014 (3992 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

NEW YORK — OK, so the plan certainly had its holes. But slap on some rose-coloured glasses and it all looked so promising, albeit on paper, for the Winnipeg Jets.

And it went something like this: roll out three lines with some offensive pop, hope the defence could hold up and then pray the goaltending — however the workload broke down between Ondrej Pavelec and Michael Hutchinson — would be steady enough to keep them in the playoff discussion into April.

And then Evander Kane lasted all of 84 seconds in the season opener before suffering a knee injury; a development that was akin to spilling a vat of toxic waste all over the blueprints.

His absence — which has stretched into nine games — set off a ripple effect through the forward lines that has had coach Paul Maurice tinkering with combinations like a mad chemist, even through the latest modest two-game win streak.

Yup, to paraphrase Scottish poet Robbie Burns, the best laid plans of ice and men often go awry.

So it was no small thing to see Kane back doing his thing at an optional practice at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., Wednesday. Gone was the powder-blue non-contact jersey. Back was that not-so-subtle swagger he brings to the ice.

And off it.

During a scrum afterward as he was providing an update on his health, a reporter commented, “You were looking pretty good out there.”

Kane grinned, looked right back at the media member and said: “Thank you.”

Chuckles followed all round.

“It felt good,” said Kane. “Every day it’s felt better and better. I feel I’m pretty close, if not there, and we’ll see what the doctors have to say. I think I could play tomorrow but, unfortunately, it’s not up to me. We’ll see what happens, what the docs say and hopefully we get some good news and I’ll be able to play.

“If not, hopefully it’s the next game.”

Maurice was treading carefully when Kane’s status was broached on Wednesday, saying all the usual stuff about getting clearance from the medical staff and seeing how the left- winger feels and yadda, yadda, yadda.

But there was also just a hint of excitement in the boss’ tone, too.

“He’s on the ice, he’s strong… it’s just a matter of him getting cleared to play,” said Maurice. “I have no issues with his conditioning or his work level. We tested him yesterday and he’s still in better shape than 90 per cent of the guys in the league.

“I guess with Evander we can list him as day-to-day now. He’s been on the ice enough. He’s an unusual athlete because he’s so fit and his recovery time now is fantastic. We’re not worried about fatigue slowing him down. With him, if he feels he’s ready to go, he’s ready to go.”

All of this isn’t to say Kane’s return will suddenly transform the Jets into a playoff contender.

 

But there was a hope he could create some magic working with Scheifele and Wheeler and they were unofficially anointed as the Jets new No. 1 trio during training camp.

And a funny thing about that: since scoring twice and adding an assist in the opener, Blake Wheeler has just two points in the eight games since. And Mark Scheifele has certainly generated his share of chances, but has just a goal and an assist through nine.

Those hardly scream out top-line numbers.

Kane’s absence has had some side benefits, for example: Michael Frolik is back with Bryan Little and Andrew Ladd and that line has been humming the last two games. It’s also impacted the third line, with Adam Lowry and Mathieu Perreault getting turns at left wing and centre. But when Kane returns — whether it’s against the Devils or Saturday on Broadway against the New York Rangers — the Jets will be closer to their original depth chart than at any point since his third shift in Phoenix.

He might not get 50, as he stated in training camp. He might not get 30, as he did a couple years ago. But when Kane is back they are essentially unleashing a caged animal who is absolutely famished.

“It’s never fun to get injured at any point in the season, but especially after a long summer,” Kane said. “It’s kind of a fresh start for me.

“It’s no fun sitting out. I haven’t played a regular game since the last game of last season. It’s been long. I’m antsy and looking forward to getting back going here.”

ed.tait@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @WFPEdTait