Winnipeg Jets, Evander Kane sign deal minutes before CBA expires -NHL Update
It could not have been a more suspension filled moment for Winnipeg Jets fans as the National Hockey League (NHL) franchise signed on Evander Kane nearly 30 minutes before the now former Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) came to an end on September 15, 2012.
If the CBA had expired and Kane was not signed on by the team, it would have left the player without a contract in hand until a new labour deal was reached, which definitely will have a lot of changes, whether positive or negative, is yet to be known.
"Obviously very excited about it," Kane said on a conference call after signing the deal. "I'm grateful that the Winnipeg Jets took that leap of faith and make that kind of commitment."
The deal is believed to be a six-year contract, but the financial details were not released by the team officially, but insiders believe that it is worth about nearly $31.5 million with an annual salary cap hit of $5.2 million. He will be making $3 and $4.5 million in the first two years respectively with the final four giving him $6 million yearly.
"I think obviously you want to get a deal done as soon as possible, but things like this take time and it came up to the very last hour to get a deal done," Kane added. "Better late than never."
While there might not be a hockey season guaranteed for the upcoming timeframe, but Kane is nevertheless excited about the prospects of staying on board with a team that he has wanted to remain a part of ever since the Atlanta Thrashers shifted up north prior to the 2011-2012 NHL regular season.
"You obviously want to play hockey," Kane stated. "But at the same time I'm kind of on cloud nine and pretty excited about this contract."
Kane was picked up by the Atlanta Thrashers as the fourth overall back in round-one of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft and completed his third straight season in the major league this year. In a total of 213 games played up until now, Kane has 126 points (63 goals, 63 assists) in total with 183 minutes in the penalty box.
Tags: