As we head to Thanksgiving -- the NHL's typical barometer for whether a team is well-positioned for a playoff berth or not -- there have been plenty of surprises around the NHL. Behind the scenes, teams have been working the phones getting a gauge of the trade market, though we likely won't see much movement until December, when teams can accrue more cap space.
I believe Kane wanted to run it back with the New York Rangers -- especially since his post-trade deadline play was so frustrating for him, hampered by his hip. But it sounds like GM Chris Drury told him the team wouldn't be able to make it work with the cap (or the Rangers boss just wasn't willing to take the risk again, especially with how well the team is jelling with new coach Peter Laviolette). I've reported before on interest from the Buffalo Sabres, Detroit Red Wings and Dallas Stars. Kane reportedly met with the Toronto Maple Leafs this week; he's been training in Toronto. Kane has a relationship with fellow American star Auston Matthews. Kane has previously talked about his desire to team up with Matthews at world competitions. Toronto would be a juicy fit, but the Leafs' top priority is shoring up the blue line. Other teams have told me they believe the Colorado Avalanche and Tampa Bay Lightning are in the mix. It's hard for me to gauge how real the Carolina Hurricanes' interest is. The team I believe that has made the most aggressive pitch to Kane is the Florida Panthers. And here's what that pitch has included:
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