The Vancouver Canucks’ season has gone from bad to worse-and now, it’s all about damage control. Sitting at the bottom of the NHL standings, the Canucks have already moved on from key pieces like Quinn Hughes and Kiefer Sherwood, and there’s growing chatter that Elias Pettersson could be next as the trade deadline looms. Add a growing list of injuries to the mix-most recently Brock Boeser landing on injured reserve-and it’s clear Vancouver is shifting its focus from chasing wins to managing the books.
With the playoffs completely out of reach, the Canucks have turned their attention to the salary cap, and the next big date on their calendar is the Olympic roster freeze, set for February 4 at 3:00 p.m. ET.
That’s the deadline after which NHL teams can’t make roster moves until after the Olympics. And according to insider Frank Seravalli, the Canucks aren’t planning to sit on their hands.
Speaking on the Canucks Central podcast, Seravalli indicated that Vancouver is expected to make at least one move before the freeze, with veteran forward Evander Kane emerging as the most likely trade chip. Kane hasn’t exactly been lighting it up this season-nine goals, 25 assists, and a minus-18 rating through 51 games-but he’s still a name that carries weight, especially for contenders looking to add depth and grit for a playoff push.
What makes Kane particularly interesting in this scenario isn’t just his on-ice play-it’s the financial side of things. Seravalli pointed out that Kane is due roughly $400,000 in real cash during the Olympic freeze period, and for a team like Vancouver, which is clearly operating with a budget-conscious approach in a non-playoff year, that’s not an insignificant number.
The Canucks are in a phase where every dollar matters, especially with the prospect of multiple non-playoff seasons ahead. Seravalli emphasized that while it’s not a catastrophic amount of money, it’s enough to make ownership and management take notice-and potentially act.
As for where Kane could land, two teams have surfaced as potential destinations: the Dallas Stars and the Colorado Avalanche. Both clubs are up against the cap, which means any deal would almost certainly require Vancouver to retain salary. Under the current collective bargaining agreement, the Canucks can retain up to 50% of Kane’s $5.125 million cap hit, giving them some flexibility to get a deal done.
According to cap tracking site PuckPedia, Dallas is projected to have about $3.2 million in space at the deadline, while Colorado could have just over $5 million to play with. That puts both teams in a position to make a move-if the Canucks are willing to eat some of Kane’s salary.
For Vancouver, this isn’t about retooling for a playoff run-it’s about setting up the next phase of their rebuild, trimming salary, and positioning themselves for future flexibility. And with the Olympic roster freeze fast approaching, the clock is ticking. Don’t be surprised if Kane is on the move sooner rather than later.