The Vancouver Canucks are clearly signaling a shift in direction. After parting ways with former captain Quinn Hughes earlier this season and more recently moving Kiefer Sherwood, it looks like veteran winger Evander Kane could be next in line to exit Vancouver before the trade deadline.
Kane, now in his 17th NHL season, arrived in Vancouver this past offseason via trade from the Edmonton Oilers. He's playing on an expiring contract, and with the Canucks fully leaning into a rebuild, GM Patrik Allvin and President Jim Rutherford appear focused on asset accumulation. That makes Kane - a proven playoff performer with a physical edge - a prime trade chip.
According to NHL insider Kevin Weekes, the Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche are among the top potential landing spots for Kane. And when you take a closer look at both teams, the fit makes a lot of sense.
Let’s start with the big picture. Both Dallas and Colorado are firmly in the playoff mix and building toward deep postseason runs.
They’ve got the cap flexibility to make a move work, and - just as important - they’ve already got strong leadership cores in place. That matters when you're bringing in a veteran like Kane, who thrives when he can focus on playing his role rather than carrying a locker room.
On the ice, Kane checks a lot of boxes for both clubs. For the Stars, the timing couldn’t be better.
With Tyler Seguin sidelined long-term due to an ACL injury, Dallas is in need of forward depth - particularly someone who can slot in on the wing and bring a physical presence. Kane fits that mold.
He’s not the 30-goal scorer he once was, but he still brings a mix of scoring touch and grit that becomes especially valuable in the postseason.
The Avalanche are in a similar spot. Gabriel Landeskog remains out indefinitely after a brutal collision with the post, and Colorado could use a veteran winger to stabilize their top nine. Kane’s ability to play a heavy game while keeping pace with skilled centers makes him a natural fit in a system like Colorado’s, which thrives on speed and puck movement but doesn’t shy away from physicality.
Beyond Dallas and Colorado, there are a few other teams worth keeping an eye on. Montreal, Ottawa, Philadelphia, and Utah have all shown signs of wanting to stay competitive down the stretch, and each could benefit from Kane’s style of play. He brings a unique blend of playoff experience, scoring ability, and edge - the kind of player who can tilt a postseason series with a timely goal or a momentum-shifting hit.
Financially, the Canucks still have $4.8 million in available cap space, which gives them room to maneuver. If necessary, they could retain a portion of Kane’s salary to sweeten the return - especially if it helps navigate the 16-team no-trade clause built into his contract.
So what exactly would a contending team be getting in Kane? Even at 34, he remains a contributor on both ends of the ice.
He’s averaging 2.43 shots on goal per game, with 0.61 of those coming from high-danger areas. That’s not elite, but it’s productive - particularly when paired with his physical output, which includes 1.67 hits per game and 57 penalty minutes on the season.
In other words, Kane still plays with that edge that’s tailor-made for playoff hockey. Over the last four seasons with the Oilers, he logged 68 playoff games and put up 42 points - along with 164 penalty minutes. That kind of postseason résumé doesn’t go unnoticed by front offices looking to bolster their depth for a Cup run.
This season, Kane has 9 goals and 15 assists through 51 games. Not eye-popping numbers, but dig a little deeper and there’s more to the story.
His 11 primary assists to just 4 secondary assists suggest he’s still creating high-quality chances. His expected goals total of 12.4, via MoneyPuck, backs that up.
The production is there - it just hasn’t translated fully on a Canucks team that’s struggling to generate consistent offense.
Bottom line: Kane still has gas in the tank, and he brings a playoff-tested skillset that contenders crave. Whether it’s Dallas, Colorado, or a dark horse team looking to make a splash, don’t be surprised if Kane is wearing a different sweater by the time the trade deadline rolls around. He’s the kind of player who can make a difference - and come spring, that’s exactly what teams are looking for.