Evander Kane Traded to Sharks from Sabres for Prospect, Draft Picks

Evander Kane has been one of the NHL's bigger enigmas for some time, and the Buffalo Sabres decided to cut ties with the left winger Monday, when he was traded to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for conditional first- and fourth-round picks and prospect Daniel O'Regan, per Eric Gilmore of ESPN.com.

Kane joined the Sabres from the Winnipeg Jets in February 2015, and he found moderate success in his new home during his first full season with Buffalo.

Kane notched 20 goals and 15 assists in 65 games of the 2015-16 season. He also finished with a career-worst minus-14.

He was solid for the Sabres in the 2017-18 season, however, registering 20 goals and 20 assists in 61 games.

Still, for a player who was once heralded as a future superstar after he was selected fourth overall in the 2009 draft, those numbers haven't inspired much confidence Kane will reach his ceiling as a true offensive force.

It also hasn't helped that Kane's image has taken a hit in the past because of legal troubles.

According to the Buffalo News' John Vogl, Kane was charged "with misdemeanor criminal trespass and five noncriminal charges of disorderly conduct and harassment in connection with encounters he allegedly had with female patrons and a bouncer at a Buffalo bar in June [2016]."

Those charges were dismissed in October 2016, according to the Associated Press (via the Toronto Sun), but the alleged actions did not reflect positively on him outside of the rink. 

"His conduct could be described as arrogant, surly and boorish, but at the end of the day, what he did did not rise to the level of a criminal offense," Erie County District Attorney Michael Flaherty said, per the Associated Press. 

Off-ice troubles may have hurt Kane's image, but the fact his contract expires after this season mitigates the risk for San Jose should things go south. Instead, the Sharks will be hoping Kane can provide a boost to their offense as they chase a playoff berth.