Salary could be too high
We know a few things about Kane’s contact: His cap hit sits at $10.5 million and he could seek something similar as he signs what might be the final contract of his career. Either way, Kane won’t come cheap, even at a hometown discount, with an AAV of $6.5 million as the possible floor per The Hockey Writers.
There are a plethora of players in the Buffalo Sabres budding nucleus Adams wants to re-sign considering they play well this season. I have mentioned their names before, but the likes of Tage Thompson, Rasmus Dahlin, Dylan Cozens, Rasmus Asplund, and Peyton Krebs will all see their contracts expire over the next two years.
Each of the above players are trending in the right direction. Thompson evolved into a dynamic scorer while Dahlin clinched an All-Star berth. Cozens has the work ethic and leadership ability to be part of the middle six for years to come while Asplund proved he can be an annual contender for the Selke. Krebs will play in his first full season at the NHL level and he showed flashes of brilliance.
All of the above are also nowhere near finished growing as players and are just now hitting their primes. Meanwhile, Kane is teetering toward the back-nine. Both acquiring and signing him to a long-term deal will most likely force the Sabres to break up that nucleus.