Buffalo Sabres Player Projections: Evander Kane

We wrap up our Buffalo Sabres Player Projection series by looking at the forward everyone currently loves to hate.

When I started my Buffalo Sabres Player Projection series, I always intended to work from the third line up to the first line, saving Mr. Evander Kane for the final installment (at least when it comes to the skaters – I’ll get around to the goatlending soon enough).

Why?

Because, more so than any skater on the Sabres roster, Kane’s 2016-17 season will have a huge impact on whether or not the 716 sees playoff hockey come April.

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See, we know what we are going to get from Ryan O’Reilly and Kyle Okposo (barring injury, of course), and we’re pretty optimistic that Jack Eichel and Sam Reinhart will avoid the sophomore slump. And even a so-so effort from Tyler Ennis will be an improvement over what Nicolas Deslauriers can contribute to the second line.

Evander Kane, though? Pardon my French, but we don’t know what the **** we’re going to see from this dude next season.

Could be he wakes up, realizes his off-ice antics are what he is most-known for, and decideds to focus on hockey like never before.

Or he could simply continue to be one of those players who wastes his potential and is out the door before the season ends.

So let’s try to project what he’ll do in 2016-17!

Player: Evander Kane

2015-16 stats: 20-15-35, -14 in 65 games played

Kane was the Sabres’ 5th-best overall scorer in 2015-16, and was fourth in terms of goals scored. He started the season in a bit of a slump, but that can be expected from a player who has just joined a team. He led the Sabres in shots with 271, so he generates a ton of offense – but with a shot percentage of 7.4%, he is nowhere near as successful at putting the puck in the back of the net as you would like to see from your No.1 left winger.

Hopefully, having a year with the Sabres under his belt will help Kane creep closer to the 30-60 club . . . if he can get his **** together, that is.

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It’s easy to look at Kane and wonder why GM Tim Murray gave up so much to get him. In seven seasons, Kane has only scored 20 or more goals twice, and has hit 30 goals exactly once. His individual production on offense would probably have him on the second line of most NHL playoff teams, and it’s never good to see a team is expected to score more goals when a player is off the ice than when he is on it.

Having said that, when Kane is focused, he is a huge boost to a team’s possession game. He gets after it on the forecheck like a motha-you-know-what, he wins battles, and he gets the puck down ice, even if he doesn’t finish as often as you would like. He would be a great compliment to the Eichel – Reinhart line if the front office was able to go out and snag someone like Jiri Hudler, an idea I pitched here. Otherwise, he’s Buffalo’s best option to start alongside ROR and Okposo . . . IF he can finally figure out what is more important at this stage of his career: winning hockey games, or trying to live like a baller.

So, with that “What path will he choose?” scenario in mind . . .

Projection: 28-25-53 – or – 18-16-34

Next: Sabres Have Limited Roster Spots Available

Sorry, Buffalo Sabres fans: I had to cheat for this post, simply because there is no way of knowing what Evander Kane is going to do next season. He’s the Sabres wild card, so I hedged my bets and envisioned two scenarios. If Kane can pull a Patrick Kane, put his legal issues behind him, and come out of the gate like a man possessed, he has the sort of linemates who can help him close to, if not surpass, his career-best totals of 30 goals and 57 points. However, if he continues to attract more attention to himself off the ice than on, he will probably wind up in Dan Bylsma and Tim Murray’s doghouse, which should result in suspensions, healthy scratches, and possibly even a trade.

Hey – at the very least, Evander Kane will provide us with plenty of entertainment value in 2016-17!

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