The Toronto Maple Leafs don’t need Patrick Kane.
The Toronto Maple Leafs should be looking at actual players that will improve their team, not at players who are expensive and in massive decline.
Patrick Kane is what the early 2000 Leafs would have done. The 2003 Leafs brought in Owen Nolan, Doug Gilmour, Phil Housley and Glen Wesley.
In 2004 they brought in Ron Francis, Brian Leetch, and like 23 other 40-year-olds that season.
The ages, reputations and experience levels of those players are very similar to the current Patrick Kane.
Picking up Kane would be exciting – no doubt – but it wouldn’t help as much as people think.
The early 2000 Leafs were out of ideas, and so is the team that trades for Patrick Kane in 2000.
Toronto Maple Leafs Don’t Need Kane
Kane is in the final year of a 10.5 million deal, 50% of which would be retained if he was traded here.
But he won’t be.
There are better players available.
Those players will cost roughly the same, and they’ll help the team more.
Also, Patrick Kane has entered a period of decline. He may or may not find his game alongside Auston Matthews, but why take the risk?
You know who is guaranteed to be an elite player, due to the fact that he’s healthy and in his prime? Timo Meier?
Do you know who is 34? Patrick Kane.
I (Rono) don't know what to say about Patrick Kane. He could be a huge addition but also terrible acquisition. Kane still has one of the best hands in the world. He's an offensive machine. But trade a 1st round draft pick + A prospect/good young player for him for example? No. pic.twitter.com/CHLEyNtmjL
— Andy & Rono (@ARHockeyStats) February 9, 2023
As you can see, the offense isn’t making up for the putrid defense any longer. Sure, he had 90+ points last year, and this may be a case of he just doesn’t care this year, but you’d be gambling that he can just turn it on like a light switch.
Other than the name-brand recognition, there is no reason to pursue this player. Should it turn out that the Leafs also bring in Timo Meier, and they want to take a flyer on P. Kane as their secondary addition, then that would be extremely exciting.
It won’t happen, but it would be fun.
However, Patrick Kane, at his age, salary and current playing level, is not worth the cost to trade for him. He would also be a majorly disappointing acquisition for a team on the verge of winning.
The Toronto Maple Leafs need to take their shot on the best player available. They should be trading for both Jakob Chychrun and Timo Meier. They shouldn’t have any interest in Patty Kane.
Better to let another team make this mistake.
Trading for players in their mid-30s who used to be stars is old-school hockey at it’s worst. Far better to get creative and take a big swing on an actual star in their prime. Trading for Patrick Kane would be extremely disappointing.