Evander Kane Drawing Western Conference Interest as Canucks Look to Move Veteran Winger
The writing’s been on the wall for a while now-Evander Kane’s time with the Vancouver Canucks is coming to an end. The team has already given his camp the green light to explore trade options, and while a deal hasn’t materialized yet, the buzz is picking up, especially out West.
Kane, a physical winger with a long track record of 20-goal seasons, hasn’t found his scoring touch this year-just nine goals through 52 games-but that’s not stopping contenders from kicking the tires. Teams like the Colorado Avalanche and Dallas Stars have already been linked to Kane, with reports confirming the Stars’ interest earlier today. Now, the Los Angeles Kings have entered the conversation, adding another Western Conference team to the mix for the veteran forward.
What makes Kane appealing, even in a down year, is his playoff pedigree. Over the last two postseasons, he’s chipped in 10 goals and 20 points in 41 games while playing a heavy, physical brand of hockey-159 hits over that span.
That kind of production and edge in the postseason is exactly what playoff-bound teams crave. He’s been a key contributor in deep playoff runs, helping the Edmonton Oilers reach back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals.
The Canucks, for their part, appear willing to sweeten the pot. Reports indicate they’re open to retaining a portion of Kane’s remaining salary, and they’re not asking for the moon in return-just a prospect or some draft capital. That kind of flexibility could make a deal easier to close, especially for cap-conscious contenders.
Injury Woes Piling Up for Vancouver
While the Kane situation looms large, the Canucks are also dealing with a growing list of injury concerns-none bigger than the news that goaltender Thatcher Demko is done for the season. And now, one of their promising young defensemen could be sidelined as well.
Zeev Buium, the 18-year-old blue-liner acquired from the Minnesota Wild in mid-December, has a broken cheekbone and may require surgery. Head coach Adam Foote hasn’t ruled out a procedure, and the expectation is that Buium will be out through the Olympic break at the very least. It’s a tough blow for a player who’s been logging serious minutes-averaging over 20 minutes a night-and showing real promise with two goals and six points in 20 games.
The hits keep coming for Vancouver. Forward Nils Höglander is being evaluated for a lower-body injury suffered in yesterday’s game against the Sharks. It’s the second time this season he’s been hampered by injuries-he missed the first two months of the year with a separate lower-body issue-and he’s struggled to find his rhythm since returning, tallying just two assists in 18 games.
Looking Ahead
With the trade deadline approaching and the playoff race tightening, the Canucks find themselves juggling two pressing realities: managing a roster hit hard by injuries and navigating the trade market with a valuable, if underperforming, asset in Evander Kane. If Vancouver can strike the right deal and get healthy in time for the stretch run, they’ll be in a better position to stay competitive. But for now, all eyes are on Kane-and which Western Conference contender will make the first move.