History is full of lopsided trades. The most important factor when considering a player swap is whether or not you will get close to equal value in return.
When a star player is involved, the rules change a little bit. While you may have to surrender the best player in the deal, factors have to be considered, particularly if the player is unhappy or carries any type of negotiating leverage.
All of this is hyperbole and speculation when it comes to discussing Winnipeg Jets’ star winger Evander Kane. Long subject of trade rumors for a move out of Manitoba, Kane has done very little along the way to dispel whispers that he is looking for another sweater to play in.
When asked about the rumors on a Vancouver radio station here are the less-than-confidence-inspiring responses from the Winnipeg star:
1040 host] Matt Sekeres: Evander, do you want to play for the Winnipeg Jets anymore?
Kane: Well, I think I’m a Winnipeg Jet right now and there’s been speculation and rumors for the three years since I got there. So we’ll see what happens and we’ll carry on as I’m a Winnipeg Jet.
Sekeres: There’s not a yes in there, and some Jets fans might say you know, why doesn’t he want to play for us? Why isn’t he absolutely fully on board for playing for us? [To Kane] You’re shaking your finger at me.
Kane: No, I think… I’m training hard and getting ready for this season. Last summer I didn’t have a full summer of training due to some surgery I had, so I found it really important for me to start training early and get myself in the best shape possible for the upcoming season.
That’s hardly an endorsement from the "face" of your franchise. Winnipeg’s general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff is notoriously stingy with trades, but has to know what he has on his hands. Kane is a huge talent, but has been a bit of a head case in his five years with the franchise.
There have been numerous off-ice incidents, some which have reached the press and others that have been kept quiet in Winnipeg. The young star will turn 23 in August and has four years remaining on his six-year $31 million deal. At $5.25 per season, Kane has a pretty attractive cap hit considering his enormous upside.
The question is whether or not Winnipeg is best served to hold on to their top commodity or to get a good return to address their roster deficiencies. The common thought is that Kane will start the season with the Jets, but conversations about his next destination are well under way.
Personally, that interview from Vancouver, Kane’s home town, would have hit the internet wire as Kane was packing his bags out of Winnipeg. A player’s value starts spiraling downward as the word gets out that he is unhappy with his current team. That being said, Kane’s youth, talent and affordable four-year contract far outweigh the negative press attention he has received.
The bottom line is that Kane needs to be moved. His value will not significantly increase as we get closer to the season. In fact, the further we get into the 2014-15 season, Kane’s value could diminish from under-performing or injury.
While Cheveldayoff’s hesitation to move Winnipeg’s hottest commodity is understandable, a move before training camp will allow the metaphorical dust to settle, and any new players to assimilate into the Jet’s lineup. Winnipeg is an NHL city that is thrilled to have hockey and their Jets back in town, but they are hungry for a playoff team and tired of supporting a player who doesn’t want to be there.