The Sharks reportedly may soon check one of their biggest pieces of business off of their off-season to-do list.
San Jose and pending free-agent winger Evander Kane reportedly agreed to a contract extension, according to Sportsnet's Irfaan Gaffar. Gaffar reported that the deal is "in the range" of seven years, and $7 million annually.
Hearing the Sharks and Evander Kane have agreed to a long-term contract extension. Numbers may be in the 7-years 7-million per range.— Irfaan Gaffar (@sportsnetirf) May 22, 2018
The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun reported that a deal is not yet done, but "all signs point towards" a seven-year deal getting done.
Deal isn't finalized quite yet, sources say, but all signs point towards a seven-year extension getting done for the pending UFA winger who has been a nice fit in San Jose. It will also mean that draft pick in the trade deadline deal becomes a first-rounder for Buffalo. https://t.co/Bje2108fIX— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) May 23, 2018
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TSN's Bob McKenzie noted there are still some hurdles to clear.
Lack of confirmation(s) likely related to this deal not yet papered or signed. @evanderkane_9 currently in London, England.— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) May 23, 2018
Kane's agency, Newport Sports Management, was unavailable for comment to at press time.
The Sharks acquired Kane at the trade deadline from the Buffalo Sabres, in exchange for forward Danny O'Regan, a 2019 conditional first-round pick, and a conditional fourth-round pick. If and when Kane officially re-signs, as LeBrun noted, San Jose will send Buffalo a first-round selection next season. General manager Doug Wilson still must decide if the Sharks will give the Sabres a fourth-round pick in next year's draft, or a third-rounder in 2020.
Kane, who will turn 27 in August, scored 14 points in 17 regular season games with San Jose, and added another five in nine playoff games. He told The Athletic's Kevin Kurz that he played with a separated shoulder in the postseason, as well as an MCL injury earlier.
If the terms of the deal accurate, Kane will be just one of four Sharks signed beyond 2021. Defenseman Brent Burns signed an eight-year deal that began last season, while Marc-Edouard Vlasic's eight-year extension and goaltender Martin Jones' five-year extension kick in next season.
Kane is currently one of five pending unrestricted free agents (UFA). Eric Fehr, Jannik Hansen, Joe Thornton, and Joel Ward are also set to become UFAs on July 1.
