Pros and cons of Maple Leafs pursuing Evander Kane

Con: Off-ice issues remain a constant problem with Evander Kane

This isn’t the first time Kane has had off-ice issues and you wonder if that has soured his reputation around the league.

Between the alleged gambling issues and personal problems at home, it seems like those were issues the Sharks didn’t want to deal with anymore. It is always something that teams have discussed when it was known that he was available on the trade market.

"“Of course we have talked about Evander Kane the hockey player and what he brings to your lineup. Not many guys like him,” an executive from another NHL team told the Athletic. “We also talked about Kane the person away from the rink and how that may affect your room.”"

There are teams who don’t want those issues to become a distraction in the locker room. Sometimes, even a talented player like Kane is not worth the headache when it comes to the baggage they bring along.

Pro: Evander Kane would be motivated to prove doubters wrong

If a team does decide that Kane is worth taking a chance on, they could benefit from a player who won’t have many chances left to prove himself.

At 30-years-old, Kane won’t be afforded many more opportunities to show that he can play in the NHL. Last season, he was one of the Sharks’ top players after scoring 22 goals and 49 points in 56 games so it’s not like he isn’t able to contribute at the NHL level.

You have to figure that if Kane can put his off-ice issues behind him, his play on the ice would be a major benefit for teams. It will also help if he were to win his grievance considering his agent made it clear that the Sharks did not have sufficient grounds to make the move.

While there will be many who have an opinion about Kane and his off-ice behaviour, and rightfully so, he cannot control that. If he ends up getting another chance to play in the NHL, his focus has to be on his play and being a good teammate.