The Toronto Maple Leafs should be one of the teams interested in 34-year-old unrestricted free agent Patrick Kane.
Yes, the Toronto Maple Leafs are facing a salary cap crunch to start the 2023-24 season, but that crunch could disappear with one trade.
Saying the Leafs don’t have enough cap space to add Kane is crazy. The Leafs have Brandon Pridham working his magic behind the scenes. If anyone can make it work, it’s Pridham.
On June 1st, Kane had hip resurfacing surgery. His agent, Pat Brisson, informed reporters that the surgery went well and that Kane’s recovery time will be four to six months. For those who don’t know, hip resurfacing is an alternative to hip replacement. According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, “the femoral head is not removed but is instead trimmed and capped with a smooth metal covering” in hip resurfacing.
By choosing resurfacing over a hip replacement, Kane is hoping to prolong his career. The right-winger registered 21 goals and 36 assists for 57 points in 73 games last season while dealing with an injured hip. If the resurfacing helps him return to 100%, then Kane could bounce back to the player who registered 92 points two seasons ago. (Stats from hockey-reference.com)
Pros and Cons of Toronto Maple Leafs Adding Kane
There are a few reasons why adding a player like Kane makes sense, but there are also reasons not to add Kane. Here is a look at the pros and cons of the Leafs adding Patrick Kane.
Pros:
By adding Kane, the Leafs would be adding a player with tons of playoff experience. He has played in 143 playoff games and won three Stanley Cups. Kane has also won a Conn Smythe trophy for playoff MVP.
Signing Kane to a one-year deal in December or January would mean he’ll only play 3-4 months and playoffs. Because of this, he might be willing to sign a cheaper salary cap-friendly deal. Kane will also be hungry to prove himself to the Leafs and the NHL in hopes of getting a long-term deal in the off-season.
Allowing Auston Matthews and Kane to play together, even if only for half a season, would be a highlight for both players. Two of the NHL’s best American players playing together is something many fans have wanted to see for a few years now.
Cons:
There is a lot of uncertainty about how Kane will play after such a major surgery. He might claim to feel 100% by December or January, but how will his body react to playing NHL games regularly? It’s a gamble that any team will have to take if they sign Kane.
Some say adding Kane creates a logjam at right wing, with the Leafs already having Mitch Marner and William Nylander. However, Nylander can play left wing, so I don’t see it being an issue. Some people are also concerned that adding Kane will take a roster spot away from a deserving prospect trying to earn a spot on the team.
For me, the Leafs are trying to win, and you win by putting the best players you have on the ice. I think most fans would choose Kane over Nick Robertson or Bobby McMann. That is, assuming that he is better than them at this point in his career.
Adding Kane would likely mean the Leafs will need to trade one of Calle Jarnkrok, Sam Lafferty, or both to free up cap space. Will Kane join the Leafs? We’ll have to wait and see, but the Toronto Maple Leafs would likely benefit from doing so.