Report: Kings and Sabres planning blockbuster trade?

The NHL offseason is almost upon us and you know what that means: Evander Kane trade rumors! The mercurial Buffalo Sabres winger seems to find himself in the middle of trade speculation nearly offseason and this summer’s no different. 

NHL insider Elliotte Friedman commented on Kane’s status during the intermission of last night’s Stanley Cup Final broadcast, saying:

"Evander Kane, he’s an unrestricted free agent after next season and the word is that the LA Kings are one of the teams that's interested and I think the Sabres are willing to do it if LA and them can strike a deal."

On the surface, the move makes sense for both sides. The Kings were desperate for scoring in 2016-17 and Kane could provide them with the offensive punch that they need, whereas the Sabres may just be happy to close the book on the Kane experiment in Buffalo. Acquired by the Sabres from the Winnipeg Jets by former general manager Tim Murray, Kane has been injured and inconsistent during his two seasons with the team but has managed 20+ goals in each campaign. His skill is undeniable, but his reputation as a brash and outspoken player seems to affect teams’ opinion of the dynamic scorer. 

Newly hired Sabres general manager Jason Botterill and newly hired Kings general manager Rob Blake may be looking to make a splash with their first major transaction, and what better way to introduce themselves to the NHL than with a blockbuster trade?