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Evander Kane: I know I can score 50 goals

Avalanche Jets Hockey

Winnipeg Jets’ Evander Kane (9) celebrates his goal against the Colorado Avalanche during second period NHL action in Winnipeg on Wednesday, March 19, 2014. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woodsduring the second period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, March 19, 2014, in Winnipeg, Manitoba. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, John Woods)

AP

Evander Kane is coming off of a rough season and he can’t seem to avoid controversy, but that hasn’t diminished his sky-high confidence.

“I’m happy to be a Winnipeg Jet right now, I’m looking forward to camp and looking forward to having a good start to the season — all things I’ve said before,” Kane told the Winnipeg Sun. “I said at the draft when I got drafted (fourth overall in 2009) that I can score 50 and I know I can score 50. Playing with the right guys and playing with those guys consistently and obviously staying healthy is a big part of it too. The sky is the limit.”

When asked specifically if he thinks that the 2014-15 campaign will be the season where he reaches the 50-goal mark, Kane was a bit more guarded. At the same time, he likes the prospect of playing on a line with Mark Scheifele and Blake Wheeler.

That leads into one of Kane’s recent controversies though as Wheeler publicly called on Kane to step up his game, which led to Kane sending out a tweet suggesting Wheeler should have simply texted him. Either way, it’s clear Kane does need to do more.

He had just 19 goals and 41 points in 63 games last season and he’s only surpassed the 50-point mark once in his career. So his production has been less than flattering for a guy playing through a six-year, $31.5 million contract. On top of all of that have been the rumors that he wants out of Winnipeg, although he has tried to distance himself from that sentiment lately.

“It might be a misunderstanding or sometimes maybe a lack of common sense, but I feel like I’m a pretty simple and straightforward guy,” said Kane. “I guess some things get misread.”

It’s hard to misread his assertion that he’s capable of scoring 50 goals. We’ll see if he lives up to that goal, now or in the future.

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