COLIN HART
Special to The Leader
Rebuilding is a long, agonizing process for all involved, especially the fans.
#TrustTheProcess worked wonders for the Buffalo Bills, yet the Buffalo Sabres remain frozen in a state of limbo, despite Jack Eichel being one of the most promising young players in the league.
With the Sabres once again at the bottom of the standings, general manager Jason Botterill traded 26-year-old Evander Kane — who was set to become an unrestricted free agent after the season — to the San Jose Sharks at the deadline in exchange for forward prospect Dan O’Regan and two conditional picks.
Kane is no doubt a skilled asset. He had two assists in his debut with the Sharks, and now, for the first time in his career, he is on a team with real Stanley Cup aspirations.
But could the Sabres have gotten more in return?
Kane was a polarizing player during his two-and-a-half year tenure in Buffalo. He consistently caused distractions off the ice, and perhaps this is why Botterill was unable to sell high at the deadline.
O’Regan is the reigning AHL Rookie of the Year and could turn into a fine complimentary player when he eventually gets called up from the Rochester Americans. He was also on the same line as Eichel and Evan Rodrigues while at Boston University, which may lead to good chemistry down the road.
Meanwhile, the two draft picks that the Sabres received are far from a sure thing.
Buffalo will receive San Jose’s 2019 first-rounder only if Kane re-signs with the Sharks. If not, the pick becomes a second-rounder. As of now, this seems like a real bargain for San Jose, who also gave up a fourth-round pick in 2020 as part of the deal.
With less than 20 games remaining on the schedule, the Sabres should be in all-out tank mode. Head coach Phil Housley should take a note from the Bills’ Sean McDermott, since nothing can get a fanbase excited about a rebuild like a good hashtag.