from Paul Gackle of the Mercury News,
According to multiple reports, the team is close to finalizing a contract with free-agent-to-be Evander Kane. The deal, expected to pay $49 million over seven years, is another step in the passing of the torch from Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau to a new generation of players.
While the longterm commitment to Kane is raising eyebrows because of the forward’s checkered past, it’s a deal the Sharks absolutely need to make.
The Sharks are attempting to pull off an extaordinarily difficult trick in the NHL’s salary-cap era: transition from one core to another while maintaining status as perennial Stanley Cup contender. It’s difficult to replace all-star players such as Thornton and Marleau without falling down.
But the Sharks managed to capitalize on a market inefficiency related to Kane. His questionable reputation enabled them to get him for a bargain price at the trade deadline — a first round pick, a fourth-round pick, and Danny O’Regan. With this contract, they’ve essentially replaced Marleau with a player 12 years younger and not much more expensive (less than $350,000) than Marleau was in the final year of his contract with the Sharks.
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