The San Jose Sharks are closing in on a seven-year contract with Evander Kane that will keep the high-scoring forward off the free-agent market.

A person familiar with the negotiations says the contract is expected to be finalized on Wednesday. The person spoke to The Associated Press on Tuesday night on condition of anonymity because the deal hasn’t been completed. Sportsnet first reported the two sides were close to an agreement.

Kane Mike Hughes Color Rush Jersey , who turns 27 in August, was acquired from Buffalo at the trade deadline. Under the terms of that trade, the Sabres will now get a first-round pick in 2019 instead of a second-rounder because Kane signed with San Jose. The selection is lottery-protected, so it could be moved to 2020.

Kane’s status was one of the biggest questions heading into this offseason for the Sharks, who were knocked out of the playoffs in six games in the second round against eventual Western Conference champion Vegas.

Star Joe Thornton is the other prominent potential free agent on the team but has said he’s willing to come back on a reduced one-year deal.

Kane had issues off the ice and with teammates at times during his stints with Winnipeg and Buffalo http://www.billsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-marshall-newhouse-jersey , but melded well with a veteran Sharks team and got the opportunity to go to the postseason for the first time in his career.

”He’s fit in well,” teammate Logan Couture said after the season ended. ”You don’t listen to what people say about him before. Getting to know him over these last few months he’s a great teammate. He cares and he wants to win. He was fun to play with.”

Kane made an immediate impact in San Jose, stepping right onto the top line with captain Joe Pavelski and helping ease the loss of Thornton, who went down with a season-ending knee injury in January. Kane used his speed and physical play to deliver nine goals and five assists in 17 games and spark an eight-game winning streak that sent San Jose to the playoffs.

Kane shined in the first round with three goals and an assist during a sweep against Anaheim. But he struggled a bit against the Golden Knights, slowed by injuries to his knee and shoulder that lingered from the end of the regular season.

He had one goal and a minus-5 rating in five games against Vegas. He missed Game 2 of that series when he was suspended for cross-checking Pierre-Edouard Bellemare.

Kane finished last season with 29 goals and 25 assists http://www.patriotsauthorizedshop.com/authentic-trent-brown-jersey , his second-most productive season to his 30-goal, 27-assist campaign for the Jets in 2011-12. Kane has 186 goals and 168 assists in 574 career games since entering the NHL as the fourth overall pick by Atlanta in 2009.

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There’s little question about where to start when looking at the top point guard prospects in the NBA draft: Trae Young and Collin Sexton.

Young was the national leader in both scoring and assists with the Sooners as a freshman, while Sexton provided an aggressive presence at the helm of the Crimson Tide’s attack in his only year at Alabama.

Young is expected to be the first point guard chosen Thursday, while Sexton could join him as a top-10 pick.

Here’s a look at the top prospects:

TRAE YOUNG

Young’s scoring and playmaking ability drew comparisons to three-time NBA champion Stephen Curry.

STRENGTHS: The 6-foot-2, 178-pound Young averaged 27.4 points and 8.7 assists while putting up his share of eye-popping numbers Youth Josh Allen Jersey , including four 40-point games and a Division I record-tying 22 assists against Northwestern State. He ranked fourth nationally in 3-pointers per game (3.69) and can score in bunches from anywhere, positioning him to thrive in the NBA’s free-flowing game.

CONCERNS: All the offensive stats were often fairly empty down the stretch as Oklahoma lost 13 of 18 before squeaking into the NCAA Tournament for a first-round loss. Young wasn’t the most efficient scorer; he was in the top four nationally in both overall shots and 3-pointers attempted but the percentages weren’t great (.422 on field goals, .360 on 3s) while he also led the nation with 167 turnovers. He also had the smallest wingspan (6-3) of players at the combine and could stand to get stronger to handle physical pro defenders.

COLLIN SEXTON

Sexton led Alabama back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2012.

STRENGTHS: Athleticism – the 6-2, 183-pound freshman has plenty of it. He averaged 19.2 points while shooting nearly 45 percent, offering a quick first step and the aggressive edge needed to get to the rim. He had a solid floor game with 3.8 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game. And while a similar height to Oklahoma’s Young http://www.giantsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-patrick-omameh-jersey , Sexton has a bigger wingspan (measuring a bit over 6-7 at the combine).

CONCERNS: Sexton is capable of hitting from outside, such as when he hit six 3-pointers against Auburn and had five other games with at least three made 3s. The trick now is becoming a more consistent threat after making just 34 percent (44 of 131) for the season.

SHAI GILGEOUS-ALEXANDER

Kentucky’s latest one-and-done talent wasn’t the Wildcats’ top recruit but thrived after becoming a full-time starter in January to make himself a possible lottery selection.

STRENGTHS: He offers good size at the point after checking in at 6-6 at the combine with a nearly 7-foot wingspan. And he improved as the year went on, averaging 16.4 points, 5.7 assists and 4.6 rebounds after becoming the starter. He also shot 40 percent from 3-point range on the year.

CONCERNS: He’ll need to add bulk to a lean 180-pound frame to handle physical play both on the perimeter and driving to the rim.

OTHERS TO WATCH:

– JALEN BRUNSON: The Associated Press national player of the year doesn’t have eye-popping athleticism, but he’s a steady and efficient performer who led Villanova to a second NCAA title in three seasons. The junior is a potential first-round pick.

– JEVON CARTER: West Virginia’s floor leader and two-time Big 12 defensive player of the year could sneak into the first round.

– TREVON DUVAL: After one year at Duke Jessie Bates III Color Rush Jersey , he is likely a second-round pick with good athleticism (third at the combine in max vertical leap at 41.5 inches) but a suspect outside shot (29 percent on 3s).

– AARON HOLIDAY: The UCLA junior is a first-round prospect and seems next up after the trio at the top. He was the Pac-12’s leading scorer (20.3 points) while averaging 5.8 assists, though he’s a bit undersized (6-1, 187).

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