The Toronto Maple Leafs bring the excitement on the ice. Off the ice, the excitement is buzzing around the current rumor surrounding the team.
There’s nothing better than a mid-season hockey rumour, especially if it turns out to be true. The Toronto Maple Leafs should be hoping that this one is.
The hockey world is buzzing over Patrick Kane preparing himself to return to the NHL.
What isn’t known is where he’ll land, however, there is speculation that the Maple Leafs are in the mix.
The Most Exciting Toronto Maple Leafs Rumour of the Season
Rumors are spreading that Kane, a three-time Stanley Cup champion and five-time All-Star, is strongly considering a move to Toronto.
There have been NHL insiders like John Shannon who have confirmed that the sniper is readying himself to pick a team and get back into action. Kane has even already met with Leafs management.
Patrick Kane, who has been training in Oakville, Ontario…is beginning the process of meeting with teams…Hearing he met with the Toronto Maple Leafs today.
— John Shannon (@JShannonhl) November 15, 2023
Analyst and former NHL goaltender Kevin Weekes was on Overdrive discussing Kane’s reemergence. “He does not want to be a support player,”
If a chance at being a four-time champion is most important to Kane, then the Toronto Maple Leafs are an excellent option for him. While they remain incomplete and lack defensive stability, it’s a group with a lot of fire power. Adding an on-ice magician like Kane makes the Buds even more dangerous.
The challenge isn’t where he fits into the lineup or even that he may bump out a young player, it’s that the veteran may not be a cheap addition. The Leafs don’t currently have the cap space to add Kane, which means they would need to clear salary to make it work. Doing so, doesn’t necessarily mean that the addition would be a positive one.
Kane’s production took a dip last season. His 57 points were the lowest of his entire 16-year career, with the exception of the 2012-13 shortened season where Kane collected 55 points. He is also coming off an invasive hit surgery, where his upper thighbone was dislocated, trimmed, capped, and cartilage removed before the thighbone was put back in place. There should be question marks about how the hip will hold up in high-level competition. It hasn’t been tested to that degree as yet, which makes signing Kane an even bigger gamble.
It’s a gamble worth making for the Leafs. It’s always helpful to add the presence of a former champion. Kane could help steady the locker room when it begins getting anxious, a helpful tool during a Stanley Cup run. On the ice, if Kane is healthy, there should be optimism that he’ll still be racking up the points and putting defenders on their heels.
Beyond the immediate impact on the ice, Kane’s potential arrival brings with it a sense of validation for the Toronto Maple Leafs aspirations. Toronto has been hungry for a Stanley Cup after finally winning a playoff round last season after a 19-year playoff drought.
The addition of Kane’s caliber signals a commitment that the team’s new GM, Brad Treliving, is doing his part to ensure the team continues in their pursuit of a Cup.
With the rumor mill in full swing about the possibility of Kane joining the Leafs, he is also meeting with other teams. Ultimately, Kane’s return to the sport is good for the NHL, no matter where he lands.