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1 hour ago
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The Buffalo Sabres are in the running to land Patrick Kane in free agency.
Kane is reportedly down to just a return to the Chicago Blackhawks or a homecoming to the Sabres.
On the one hand, it'd be exciting for Buffalo to land a player like Kane, who has 1,400 points in his NHL career.
On the other hand, it'd mean that part of their exciting forward group would be left on the outside looking in.
Based on how analyst Joe Marino projects it, both Konsta Helenius and Jiri Kulich would start the year in AHL Rochester if Kane signs.
If the Sabres are signing Patrick Kane I think Konsta Helenius and Jiri Kulich are Rochester bound unless there’s a slew of training camp injuries
Benson - Norris - Thompson
Kane - Östlund - Doan
Zucker - McLeod - Quinn
Krebs - Carrick - Malenstyn
Extra: Kozak or Danforth
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It certainly makes sense that Helenius and Kulich wouldn't be fourth-line forwards. It'd be better for their development to get lots of ice time in Rochester instead.
But it'd be a bit disappointing for both of them.
Helenius was called up during the playoffs and made an impact once Lindy Ruff let him play. Kulich had an injury-plagued year but doesn't have much left to prove in the AHL.
Is Kane still good enough that it's worth holding off all the youngsters? Maybe. The Sabres might end up finding out.
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