Welcome back to another edition of NHL Rumours from the crew at Last Word on Hockey. The NHL Entry Draft has concluded and we’re now just a day away from the opening of free agency. With that, the rumours around the NHL are coming in hot and heavy. In this NHL Rumours segment, we focus on a rumour that the Montreal Canadiens are interested in veteran forward Patrick Kane.
All NHL rumours come from their original source and are subject to change.
NHL Rumours: Veteran Forward of Interest for Canadiens
According to Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff, the Montreal Canadiens will be making a run at Patrick Kane when free agency opens.
Fast forward to 6:50 to hear Seravalli mention the Canadiens’ interest in Kane.
Canadiens Surprisingly Linked to Kane
When you hear the name Patrick Kane, you think more of teams who are already Stanley Cup Contenders and are just looking to add that extra piece. Teams like the Edmonton Oilers or the Colorado Avalanche come to mind. However, according to Seravalli, the Canadiens will be throwing their hat in the ring when free agency opens on July 1st.
While it is a bit surprising, it also makes quite a bit of sense from the Canadiens’ standpoint. First of all, the Habs are hoping to make the playoffs this coming season. And it’s no secret they’re looking to add offence this offseason. When it comes to offence, Patrick Kane is one of the top free agents in the market. Last season, Kane scored 20 goals and 47 points in 50 games for the Detroit Red Wings. At 35-years-old, Kane showed he is still able to produce. He would be an excellent add for the Canadiens to get some secondary scoring which is so drastically needed. And to be able to get it without giving up assets as well as at a cheap cap hit (only signed for $2.75 for one year last season) this would be a huge win for the Canadiens.
Canadiens Would Have Options for Kane if They Do Not Make the Playoffs
If the Canadiens were to fail to make the playoffs, the Canadiens could flip Kane to a Stanley Cup contender at the deadline, depending on how far out of the race they were. The Red Wings held on to Kane last season as their playoff hopes came right down to the wire. Unfortunate. However, they couldn’t risk trading him and giving up on their playoff chances. That scenario is less likely to happen again, but if so, it’s not the end of the world as the club is hoping to at least play meaningful hockey in March and April this season. With the main goal being to make the playoffs.
Kane Would be a Massive Addition to the Canadiens
Signing Patrick Kane is a win-win any way you look at it. The Canadiens need to improve their secondary scoring from last year as outside the top line, the offence dried up. Getting Kane to play alongside Kirby Dach (who is an ex-teammate of his) would drastically improve the second line and make the Canadiens’ offence much scarier. His addition would also help the club’s powerplay, which finished 27th in the league last season.
While there’s no telling if Kane actually an has interest in joining the Canadiens, we can certainly expect Kent Hughes to be calling looking for his services. He’s rumoured to be looking to improve the offence this offseason and Kane would certainly be a player who fits that bill. It should be an interesting offseason for the Canadiens.
Main Photo: Brian Bradshaw Sevald-USA TODAY Sports
