The Evander Kane homecoming in Vancouver hasn’t exactly gone according to plan. When the Canucks dealt a fourth-round pick to the Edmonton Oilers over the summer to bring the Vancouver native back to his hometown, the hope was that Kane could bring some grit, scoring touch, and veteran presence to a team looking to take a step forward. But now, with the season unraveling and the Canucks sitting at the bottom of the NHL standings, Kane’s name is back in the trade rumor mill - and this time, it sounds like there’s real traction.
Let’s start with the numbers. Kane has stayed relatively healthy, missing just one game so far.
But through 51 contests, he’s posted nine goals and 15 assists for 24 points. That minus-18 rating jumps off the page - not all on him, of course, but it’s indicative of a team that’s struggled to keep the puck out of its own net and generate consistent offense.
His average ice time, 16:53 per game, suggests he’s still being leaned on in a middle-six role, but the impact just hasn’t been there in a meaningful way.
With just one year left on his four-year, $5.125 million AAV contract - originally signed with Edmonton in July 2022 - Kane is now one of several veteran unrestricted free agents the Canucks are openly shopping. After moving Kiefer Sherwood, Kane looks like the next logical piece to go.
He’s not oblivious to the noise. “I think there’s a lot of names that are out there,” Kane said.
“All of a sudden, just because a member of the Vancouver media tweeted it out, we got a big scrum today. But yeah, it’s part of the process.
It’s part of the way business is done at the NHL level.”
That business could soon take him to a playoff contender. NHL Insider Kevin Weekes has linked the Colorado Avalanche and Dallas Stars to Kane, while other reports suggest some Eastern Conference teams have also kicked the tires. His agent has reportedly been given permission to help facilitate a trade, according to Donnie & Dhali’s Rick Dhaliwal - a sign that both sides are on the same page about finding a fresh start.
And make no mistake: Kane wants to play meaningful hockey again. “I don’t know if there’s a person in this room that doesn’t have a hunger to play playoff hockey,” he said.
“When you train all summer and come to training camp, that’s what you’re training to do. So, obviously that’s a desire for anybody, and that’s no different with me.”
This isn’t how Kane envisioned his return to Vancouver. The excitement of playing in front of family and friends has been overshadowed by a season that’s gone completely off the rails. Still, he’s trying to keep a professional mindset, even as the losses pile up and the trade rumors swirl.
“Yeah, I think everybody’s disappointed with how the season has gone,” Kane admitted. “Nobody wanted to be in last place.
I don’t think anybody has that anticipation or that desire to start off a year. But it is what it is, and, you know, you have to be ready to show up to work and be a professional.
I think that’s what everybody in the room has done so far. We’ll let the chips fall where they may.”
That sense of resignation - mixed with realism - is common in locker rooms at this time of year, especially on teams headed for a rebuild or retool. Kane knows how this works.
When a season goes this far south, change is inevitable. “I don’t think anybody anticipated, from top to bottom, the season going the way it’s gone,” he said.
“So, you know, when that does happen, I think every single year with the team who’s in last place, changes happen.”
For now, Kane remains in the lineup. Ahead of Tuesday’s game against the San Jose Sharks, he was skating on the fourth line alongside Nils Höglander and Aatu Räty - a far cry from the top-line minutes he’s seen in previous seasons.
The Canucks aren’t rushing a deal, but the clock is ticking. The Olympic roster freeze looms on February 4, and if Kane isn’t moved by then, Vancouver will have a narrow 12-day window from February 23 to March 6 to make something happen before the NHL Trade Deadline.
Whether it’s Colorado, Dallas, or another contender out East, Kane’s next stop could very well be a team with playoff aspirations. And for a player who still believes he can contribute in a meaningful way, that might be exactly what he needs.