Insider Names 4 Dark Horses Still in Patrick Kane Running

The turkey is digested, and everyone now expects that free agent Patrick Kane will be making his decision on where to sign any time. The latest intel has suggested that the Florida Panthers could be the frontrunners, while teams like the Buffalo Sabres and the Detroit Red Wings (who Kane has "put a lot of thought into", says Insider Elliotte Friedman) also get mentioned a lot. 

But Friedman says that the secrecy around the talks leads him to believe that there could be some dark horse out there that might surprise us. On his latest 32 Thoughts, he proposes four teams that we shouldn't forget about:

New York Islanders

"No one is more secretive than Lou Lamoriello," writes Friedman, while also noting that the Islanders, who have struggled to start the season, are in definite need of a scoring boost. Kane does want to have a chance at the Cup though... Are the Islanders really a contender at this point?

Toronto Maple Leafs

Yes, the Leafs' main focus should be on improving the defense. But they have talked to Kane, and the question is can GM Brad Treliving resist the star impact? "It fits Brad Treliving’s profile that he’d get involved even if not a perfect fit," says Friedman.

Colorado Avalanche

With injury issues, the Avs "have pitched" Kane, and they certainly fulfill his stipulation of being a contender. Colorado has been linked as a possibility over the last week. 

Vegas Golden Knights

Certainly no team offers him a better chance to win than the defending Cup champs. It would mean, however, that Kane is willing to take a lower-salary "prove it" type of deal. But Friedman wonders if the travel of the Western Conference would make him shy away, coming off his hip surgery. 

We should have a decision very soon, we'll keep you posted.

Photo: Danny Wild-USA TODAY Sports