San Jose Sharks playing a dangerous game with Evander Kane contract

The San Jose Sharks are playing the high-risk, high-reward plan with Evander Kane.

After an incredibly successful season following the NHL trade deadline signing, the San Jose Sharks have agreed to a seven-year contract with winger Evander Kane.

The deal was announced by Irfaan Gaffar of Sportsnet on Tuesday and confirmed by the team itself on Thursday.

At seven years, this could potentially be the last contract Kane signs:

https://twitter.com/SanJoseSharks/status/999662869074460674

The exact contract is seven years worth $49 million, so he’ll be getting $7 million per year.

Kane was acquired from the Buffalo Sabres at the trade deadline as a rental but he ended up lighting it up for San Jose when he got there. He had 14 points in 17 games and had four goals and five points in nine playoff games.

This contract, though, is high-risk for the Sharks, as they’re going to be paying him $7 million per year when he’s only had one 30-goal season in his career. He’s only 26, so they’ll be getting him until he’s in his early thirties, but will he be able to consistently put up 28 goal seasons every year or get over the 30 goal hump?

More importantly, the market has potentially changed a bit with this signing. Max Pacioretty, a five-time 30 goal scorer with the Montreal Canadians, will be up for an extension soon, too. What’s his worth if Kane’s is $7 million? Chris Kreider of the New York Rangers also has similar production to Evander Kane. He has 105 goals for his career compared to 109 for Kane. Could he potentially get $7 million per year from the Rangers when his contract is up in a couple seasons?

San Jose will also need to decide what to do with both Logan Couture and Joe Pavelski after next season. They’re both free agents making $6M per year going into the final year of their deals. Ths Kane extension could handcuff them a bit with making a decision since both are two of their best players.

Next: Evander Kane Deserves Extension With Sharks

Kane is a very good player who performed above expectations when he came over. But there’s a high chance that he won’t live up to this contract in San Jose.