Are Sharks Looking to Trade Evander Kane?

“Good luck.”

That’s what one NHL executive thinks about the San Jose Sharks’ chances of winning an Evander Kane trade.

“Sources indicate significant friction built up between Kane and a number of his teammates last season,” Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff wrote, “frustration that was expressed clearly to management in exit interviews.”

For that reason, Kane was No. 5 in Seravalli’s “Trade Targets” column today. Seravalli did not expand on the nature of the friction or if the San Jose Sharks are actively looking to deal the winger.

On one hand, Kane enjoyed a career campaign, potting a team-leading 22 goals and winning the media-voted Team MVP.

On the other hand? Considering the 29-year-old’s locker room history — he’s worn out welcomes in previous NHL stops Atlanta/Winnipeg and Buffalo — this isn’t shocking.

“He’s been known to bring turmoil into a team and not bring a team together,” said another NHL source familiar with Kane, “and that seems to have continued.”

This is another bump in a rough year for the San Jose Sharks.

Because of the pandemic, San Jose was unable to truly celebrate their 30th anniversary season at home, spending the first month-and-a-half of the season entirely on the road and the rest of the year in a mostly-empty SAP Center. Their expensive roster missed the playoffs once again, just the third time in franchise history that the Sharks have missed the post-season in back-to-back campaigns. And now, it’s fair to wonder about the team’s locker room culture and whether or not that’s actually in a good place.

So what would a Sharks trade involving Kane look like?

As the executive indicated to San Jose Hockey Now, don’t expect a lot. Yes, Kane’s production has been unimpeachable — he’s enjoyed six-straight 20-goal seasons, doubly impressive considering the last two years were shortened.

That’s not the only good: Kane was one of the founders of the Hockey Diversity Alliance and the San Jose Sharks’ nominee for the 2020 King Clancy Trophy.

But there’s also the threat of locker room drama, the outside noise from his bankruptcy proceedings, and four seasons left on a massive seven-year contract.

A $7 million dollar cap hit is fair for a consistent scorer of Kane’s ilk. It’s the baggage that begs the question: Is it worth it?

It sounds like the answer will be no if Kane indeed hits the trade block.