A familiar name is still sitting in free agency as the second month of the NHL offseason gets underway: Evander Kane.
Among the former Buffalo Sabres who have yet to sign, Kane stands out as the biggest one. The 34-year-old winger spent three seasons in Buffalo after arriving from Winnipeg in the 2015 blockbuster, and his career has long been defined by a mix of high-end ability and the baggage that has followed him from stop to stop.
The talent has always been there. Kane was taken fourth overall by the Atlanta Thrashers in 2009, and he has topped 20 goals nine different times.
But durability has become a real issue in recent years. He appeared in just 43 games and 41 games in his first two seasons with Edmonton in 2022 and 2023, then missed the entire 2024-25 season because of a series of injuries before returning for a playoff run with the Oilers.
Edmonton then dealt him to Vancouver after its second straight Cup loss to Florida, clearing his $5.125 million salary in the process. Back with his hometown Canucks, Kane played 71 games and produced 31 points, including 13 goals and 18 assists.
That production suggests there may still be something left in the tank. The question now is whether teams believe the upside is worth the risk. For many clubs, the concern is not just what Kane can still do on the ice, but the possibility of the distraction he could bring off it.
If he lands anywhere, it figures to be on a one-year deal with a team looking to round out its roster. A bounce-back season could even make him a trade candidate as a rental before the deadline. If he wants to join a contender, though, the likeliest path may be a professional tryout.
In Other News...
Sabres Stay In The Middle Of A Goalie Debate Fans Feel Strongly About
As the 2026-27 season starts to come into view, the trade market is already beginning to stir, and the Sabres are in the middle of one of the more familiar debates in their own building. Buffalo has long been linked to the idea of upgrading in goal, and the latest chatter keeps them attached to a name that would instantly change the conversation in net. Even with other fronts across the league drawing attention, from Detroit's potential reshuffle to Montreal's search for a forward, the Sabres' interest in a high-end goalie remains a storyline worth tracking.
Connor Hellebuyck is still the big swing Buffalo is thought to be watching, a reminder of how much the position can shape the team's outlook if the right opportunity ever opens. The Sabres also missed out on Patrick Kane, another sign that these kinds of headline-chasing moves do not always break their way. For a fan base that has spent years debating whether the answer is already in place or still out there somewhere, the next stretch of trade talk could keep the goalie question front and center. [Read more 🡒]
Sabres Fans Have A New Center Prospect Worth Tracking
Ashton Schultz gives the Sabres another name to file away in their center pipeline, and he arrives with a profile that should appeal to fans who like their prospects to do a little of everything. The 19-year-old split time between two USHL clubs and drew notice in scouting reports for his playmaking touch and defensive responsibility, traits that tend to travel well as young forwards move up the ladder.
For Buffalo, the appeal is less about immediate impact and more about what Schultz could become with another season of development in a strong college environment. He is heading to North Dakota this fall, and that makes him part of the longer-view conversation the Sabres are trying to build around their system, where patience often matters as much as raw upside. [Read more 🡒]
Sabres Linked To Veteran Scoring Help With One Catch
The Sabres are still scanning the market for ways to patch up the offense after losing production with the departures of Alex Tuch and Bowen Byram, and the search has led them to a familiar type of target: a proven veteran winger who could help right away. One name in the mix is a player coming off a quieter scoring season because of injury, but who still fits the profile of a short-term boost for a team that does not want to waste time waiting for internal answers.
Anaheim is also a factor in the equation, since the Ducks are looking to clear salary and could be open to moving veteran money if the return makes sense. For Buffalo, the intrigue is not just about whether the player can still score, but whether the contract structure makes him attainable without forcing the Sabres to overpay in assets or cap space. [Read more 🡒]