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Buffalo Sabres Players: Evander Kane’s Impact

By Jacob D. Strozyk

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For the longest time (or at least since 2010) the Buffalo Sabres have been looking for the player that would be a consistent scoring threat whenever he stepped out on the ice. Some would argue that Thomas Vanek was that player. While it is true that Vanek is a distinct scoring threat, he was not enough of an imposing presence, nor was he consistent enough to be a constant scoring threat.

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Last season General Manager Tim Murray made a trade that shook the hockey world by trading away a first round pick (from the St. Louis Blues), their second round pick from 2014 Brenden Lemieux, former 2011 first round pick Joel Armia, Drew Stafford, and most notably Tyler Myers. In return, Murray received, Jason Kasdorf, Zach Bogosian, and Evander Kane.

When it is talked about, everyone focuses on Evander Kane, and for good reason. Kane is a powerful and consistent scoring threat whenever he steps out on the ice. The past couple of seasons he has struggled with injuries, so he has not been able to play at his full potential. The season that he was able to was back in 2011-12 when he put up 30 goals and 57 points in 74 games. That was only his third season as a pro hockey player, and he did so as a 20 year old.

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Now at the age of 24, Kane is still a very young talent, and he has the ability to score without anyone helping him out. The Sabres decided to help him out regardless by getting him some key forwards to support him in Ryan O’Reilly and eventually Jack Eichel.

Evander Kane is slotted to be the top line winger for the upcoming season without any doubt. He will be fully recovered from his surgery and ready to step out on the ice to produce.

Kane is not a one dimensional player in any sort. He can shoot, he can score, he can pass, he can hit (very well), and he can fight. The is the perfect kind of power forward that can make opposing defenses cringe. Players like Jarome Iginla (back in his hay day), Jamie Benn, and Corey Perry have made this kind of player in the NHL one to be noticed. Kane is a perfect example of it all. He can stand up for himself if need be, or make you pay with a highlight reel goal.

Don’t believe me? Ask Matt Cooke:

Not that I expect Evander Kane to be dropping the mitts very often, but it is an added aspect to his game that makes him even more dangerous.

He is a threat wherever he ends up on the ice and he will be one of Buffalo’s top weapons next season.

One top of being an even strength weapon, Kane will add some extra punch to the Buffalo Sabres dismal power play. After yet another season of Buffalo playing fetch in there own end, Kane will provide a new dynamic to the power play unit. Adding his size and shot to the likes of Tyler Ennis‘ creativity and shiftiness, the Buffalo power play may be at least decent next year. I may actually find myself not dozing off for two minutes as they work the puck around for some legitimate scoring chances.

There is nothing that Evander Kane won’t do to win games, and it shows in the heart he puts in every play. He loves the game of hockey and it shows in his play. He doesn’t take losses lightly, but he knows how to recover well from them. After playing for the rebuilding Thrashers/Jets organization, he knows how to come out of it all and be something important.

As he suits up for his first Buffalo Sabres match this coming fall, expect him to be an immediate impact on the Sabres offense. It would not shock me to see him drive to the net in the first five minutes of being on the ice for the first Buffalo goal of the season.

Next: Sabres Top Prospects #6-10

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