The Vancouver Canucks Roll the Proverbial Off-Season Trade Dice, Raise Kane

The Vancouver Canucks have traded for Evander Kane in a risky, buy-low deal that they believe will pay off. If you watch Kane in the playoffs, how could you not belief so?

Vancouver Canucks Trade For Kane, Hope That’s All

We’re not going to relitigate all of the off-ice controversies that have plagued Evander Kane. Legal issues are their own problem, and not ones we’re suited to assess. Injuries issues have also reared their ugly head for Kane. Still he remains a goal-scoring threat, that gets it done in springtime hockey.

It’s worth noting, though, that every team he’s been on has had issues of one sort or another with his personality.  Winnipeg, Buffalo, San Jose and Edmonton all had some turmoil during his stay, and for a team that famously self-destructed last year, Kane seems an odd choice to add.

On the other hand, at least his controversy with the Oilers is about the possibility of collusion with the team rather than a fight with them. That’s a form of teamwork, right? And Vancouver is quite familiar with being arbitrarily targeted by the league. So this might be a fit after all.

How Kane Can Work With Vancouver

The Vancouver Canucks are in tight to find scoring talent for next season, with two 25-goal scorers set to walk away. While Kane missed the entire regular season, he did return for 21 playoff games, scoring six times. None were power-play goals, but that is one spot where he can contribute.

Vancouver’s special teams have improved lately, but the power-play only reached the middle of the pack last season. Losing Brock Boeser hurts there as much as it does anywhere, but Kane does have the skill to compensate. And he does like shooting the puck, scoring without relying on an abnormally high shot percentage.

The Canucks did trade for Kane for more than his goals, too. He has frequently been used on the penalty kill of whatever team he’s on. It’s unlikely he’ll be called on for PK duty given Vancouver’s skill there, but that’s an option for coach Adam Foote.

He plays with some recklessness, often getting his team into penalty trouble, but adds an undeniable edge to the team. That definitely can’t be said of either Boeser or the other scorer Vancouver’s losing, Pius Suter. After all, if swagger were a statistic, Kane would be among the league’s leaders every season, you know, earned or not.

Why Now

As we said, the Canucks need to replace an awful lot of scoring that is walking out the door. Free agency isn’t much of an option despite the team having around $12 million in cap space before this deal. The increased salary cap benefited every team, so outbidding others for talent will be difficult.

In going the trade route, Vancouver has a player under contract who is a top-six winger for little cost. The challenge was to get talent without sacrificing anyone they valued, and that means buying low and crossing fingers.

Kane should remain on the left side with the Canucks, likely seating in behind Jake DeBrusk. His physical presence could do very well alongside the skilled Filip Chytil. Assuming both players can stay healthy, and that’s no guarantee.

Kane had surgery at the beginning of 2024-25 and on his return in the playoffs showed little sign of previous ailments. He wore down as the second season continued, which isn’t surprising given his year-long absence, after a substantial professional career to this point.

Canucks Trade for Kane, Kane Agrees to Come

As leery of Evander Kane as fans are, Kane himself doesn’t have any doubts. Not only was he born in Vancouver, he played his entire pre-NHL career in the city. His contract has a 16-team no-trade clause, and, mad as the city is, Vancouver wasn’t on it.

And yes, fans are rightfully suspicious of the player they’re getting. The 2024-25 season was one where the only story was a long-term feud and its aftermath. Adding a player who is well-known for personality clashes in locker rooms he happens to be in looks counterproductive.

More seriously, that he wants to play in Vancouver and will start his final contract year are both incentives. It also counters the narrative of players not wanting to come to the city.

As much of a gamble as this looks like on the outside, there is a good chance it’s a deal where everyone wins.