LeBrun explained,
"[Y]es, the Leafs spoke to Kane and his camp but were not one of the three or four teams on his short list."
Brad Treliving had already emphasized the Leafs' focus on upgrading their blueline as a top priority. The Florida Panthers, despite a dedicated effort, fell short in their pitch to have Kane join
Aleksander Barkov in sunny Florida. The Buffalo Sabres, Kane's hometown team, also made a substantial effort but did not secure his commitment.