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How much is a flawed asset like Evander Kane worth?

Winnipeg Jets v San Jose Sharks

SAN JOSE, CA - MARCH 27: Evander Kane #9 of the Winnipeg Jets skates against the San Jose Sharks at SAP Center on March 27, 2014 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Rocky Widner/Getty Image)

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Evander Kane is a flawed asset. For all his talent, which is considerable, after what happened last week, there are major concerns about the 23-year-old’s ability to fit in with teammates.

And make no mistake, that’s a big deal in hockey, where a group-first attitude and a willingness to buy in to a team approach are held in high regard.

Even those who are rolling their eyes right now and believe the concerns about Kane are overblown can agree that, to at least some degree, those concerns stand to hinder Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff, who’s expected to trade the young winger, either prior to the March 2 deadline or during the offseason.

Making matters even more challenging for Cheveldayoff? Kane just had shoulder surgery. So that’s another thing a potential trading partner will have to be convinced to, if not completely ignore, at least not worry too much about.

According to the Winnipeg Free Press, the “standard asking price” for “a very good young player with a friendly contract” like Kane is a “young NHL player, a grade-A prospect and a first-round draft pick.”

At first glance, that seems like a pretty big haul for a potential problem child like Kane. But let’s not forget, it wasn’t too long ago that some were calling Jeff Carter “completely untradeable” when he was unhappy in Columbus.

Carter, of course, ended up netting the Jackets Jack Johnson and a first-round pick, then won a couple of Stanley Cups in L.A.

That’s not to say Kane’s story will end up like Carter’s, or that they’re of equal worth. The point is, Cheveldayoff still has a pretty valuable asset to peddle.

As the Press writes, “Evander Kane will get traded. Maybe now or maybe in the summer. But it won’t be a yard sale.”