Canucks Hat Trick: Kick trade tires on Kane, McLellan a master survivor, Willie's new Kassian tact
Ben Kuzma More from Ben Kuzma
Updated: February 5, 2015 10:32 AM PST
Three things to ponder as we wonder about the real story behind that track-suit spin on the code-breaking Evander Kane and his trade worth, how Todd McLellan has kept dodging bullets in San Jose and how Willie Desjardins keeps trying to get through to Zack Kassian:
1. KANE IS ABLE, PHONE IS RINGING: In the right circumstance with his head on straight, his body in sync and someone to mentor one of the game's emerging and confusing talents, Evander Kane can be a game-breaker. The long-running saga of his disconnect with the Winnipeg Jets is finally entering the final chapter because the club is now listening to trade offers for the speedy yet high-maintenance winger. And anybody who was really listening to what was being spun out of the Manitoba capital about Kane's game-day conduct on Tuesday in Vancouver, knows the track-suit story doesn't really wash and is only part of the story. Track suit? Fine him. Something more? How about a reported incident with teammates in which Kane showed up at the rink in a track suit for a morning team meeting — violating team policy — and then had a brief off-ice workout. Dustin Byfuglien reportedly then tossed the track suit into the shower to send a message. Kane was not on the team bus to Rogers Arena for the game and missed the pre-game meeting. The Jets reportedly couldn't reach Kane and he informed them an hour before faceoff that he would not be playing against the Canucks because he was too injured to play.
If all that is the case amid all the fuzzy optics that are a little more clear, then move him.
Which, of course, brings us to today. Kane wasn't at practice in Winnipeg and that's one way to keep the media at a distance while he was being medically evaluated. And the fact the Jets are better off parting with Kane — even in the midst of a strong push for a playoff position — tells you everything about enough being enough and the Vancouver native getting his wish.
Canucks assistant coach Perry Pearn was a former assistant to Claude Noel in Winnipeg. He has seen just about everything in the game and gaining the respect of a veteran like Andrew Ladd or reaching the mercurial Kane on some level was one of his strong suits.
"You always reach some players more than others and I had a really good relationship with Kane and I got him killing penalties and he did a really good job," said Pearn.
Kane, 23, has three more seasons at a $6 million US annually and that's going to be too rich for most suitors. But the asking price for a guy who has already had a 30-goal season could actually drop because his production after a breakout season has slipped to 17, 19 and 10 goals in 36 games this season. And then there's the baggage he comes with. Kane also has medical issues and has been placed on injury reserve with what's believed to be a shoulder injury that may require surgery. He was also dropped down the lineup, so you can understand why the wolves are at the door. He's a top-six player teams covet and isn't that what the Canucks have been chasing since they passed on David Perron at the 2007 draft took Patrick White?
The problem here is only three defencemen are signed for next season and Chris Tanev is going to finally get a multi-year contract extension that will probably start at $4 to $4.5 million annually. Up front, UFA Derek Dorsett is a priority while Shawn Matthias and Brad Richardson are also UFAs. More importantly, chemistry in any room is always a concern and the Canucks are extremely image-conscious. Ryan Kesler wanted out while Zack Kassian probably feels the same way, although he constantly states on the record about wanting to remain a Canuck.
That said, you still have to kick the trade tires on Kane. If you don't, you're not doing your job to possibly land a player who can help get you to the next level — warts and all — either later this season or the next. The leadership group in the Canucks room might just be the right tonic to reel Kane in. We know he loves the city. And we know he would love to play for his hometown club.
Would you trade Kane for Kassian, Province Sports Radio asks.
2. NOT SO ODD, TODD A SURVIVOR: Say what you want about the San Jose Sharks — a perennial Pacific Division power that someone blew a 3-0 playoff series lead to the Los Angeles Kings last spring — they remain a contender because Todd McLellan knows how to dodge bullets and pull the coaching trigger when warranted. After all, when you're trying to motivate the long-serving Joe Thornton and then strip him of the captaincy to add something to the club chemistry — Joe Pavelski and Logan Couture are transitioning into leadership roles — it's tricky. Any chemistry experiment can blow up in your face and two first-round playoff exits in the last three years had the rumour mill churning that McLellan would be out last summer. He's not because he knows when to barge into the lockerroom and when to keep his distance. He will test all that tonight against the Canucks.
"We knock on the door," he said. "We know the performance bar and the expectations have to be set by the coaching staff. We have to hold them (players) accountable and that has to filter through. The four assistant captains are a big part of it. I like the way it's worked. It hasn't been smooth. We went through controversy and bad times but the group has stuck together."
It's given McLellan longevity since joining the Sharks in 2008.
"That's a big word, especially for me," he added. "The relationship you set with players allows you to set boundaries on how far and how hard you can push — individually and collectively. The players know when you're out of character and when they're out of character — we've been together that long."
3. HELLO WARREN, IT'S WILLIE: Here's my read on Willie Desjardins. He played the trust card early because as a new coach, he had to gain the co-operation and collective buy-in, especially from the leadership group. He wouldn't criticize an individual or team performance and then transitioned into the decisions any coach has to make, sitting a player or juggling his lines. And now it's about asking aloud how to improve the club's shortcomings and establish a consistent work ethic and challenge players.
He's not a quote machine, but has to come up with new material because he's going to face the daily Zack Kassian questions about the winger being sat seven games and five times in the last 14. To his credit, Desjardins told TSN 1040 he has reached out to Kassian's former junior OHL coach — Warren Rychel of the Windsor Spitfires — to get a read on how he was at that level and getting to him here. Desjardins believes getting Kassian to work the right and consistent way here is possible and the coach is committed to that. It could also be because there's not much of a trade market for the two-goal, wayward winger.
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