Kane misses Canucks game
The 23-year-old was kept out of his team’s game against the Vancouver Canucks in his hometown on Tuesday after taking the morning skate. Coach Paul Maurice said the Jet forward was scratched as a “coach’s decision.” Reports then came out that the issue began with Kane turning up to a team meeting in a track suit instead of the required suit and tie.
In response seems teammate Dustin Byfuglien threw some of Kane’s clothes into the shower. It appears Kane’s breaking rules are wearing thin with teammates.
At any rate, the next salvo was fired by Kane, who didn’t show up on time for the game and was called and said he would not be playing and hung up his phone. There are multiple media who tell that story but naturally the Jets aren’t making public statements about it. They did, however, place him on the injured reserve list; they said he’s been playing through an undisclosed injury and will require surgery.
Wheeler: “Other places to go”
His teammates are trying not to throw him under the bus but may have become frustrated with Kane, who has just 10 goals and 12 assists in 37 games; for a guy with his talent, those numbers really should be higher. Teammates are not quibbling about his output though, just how he behaves.
“There’s a standard that everybody needs to live up to. We’re professionals. We make a lot of money,” Blake Wheeler said when asked bout Kane. “We’re expected to uphold a certain standard and that’s the code we live by. That’s just the way it is. If you don’t like it, then there’s other places to go. This is the way we do things.”
What next? There are those who’ll say he won’t play again with the Winnipeg Jets and others who point out that he’s a valuable commodity but one that has a “buyer beware” sticker on him. Hard to get full value given that, but the Jets may insist upon full value, regardless.
There’s naturally been talk in Vancouver of a deal between the Canucks and Jets to bring Kane back to his hometown. He grew up in Vancouver, played at the North Shore Winter Club and with the Vancouver Thunderbirds organization and even played junior with the WHL Vancouver Giants, where he won a Memorial Cup as a 16-year-old.
The Canucks have their own designated underachiever in Zack Kassian but it would take more than him to get Kane. Mind you, Kassian doesn’t have a big contract, Kane does. Kassian and who? The Jets would want someone who they know could play right away and likely a strong prospect.
He’d also look good alongside Sidney Crosby in Pittsburgh, maybe get Sid the Kid going. There are a host of clubs that could use a power forward who can shoot with the best so unless his injury gets in the way — it’s come at a convenient time — expect Kane to be moved.
If the injury shuts him down for the season it will likely come in the summer.
