In a move aimed at clearing cap space, the Edmonton Oilers have reportedly traded forward Evander Kane to the Vancouver Canucks. The trade, confirmed by Kane himself via a post on X (formerly Twitter), sees the veteran winger heading back to his hometown. While official details from the teams are still pending, reports indicate that the Oilers will receive a fourth-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft from the Canucks in exchange for Kane.
Kane, 33, is entering the final year of a four-year, $20.5 million contract he signed with the Oilers in July 2022. The deal carries an average annual value (AAV) and cap hit of $5.125 million. For the 2025-26 season, Kane is set to earn a base salary of $4 million. By trading Kane without retaining any salary, the Oilers free up significant cap space.
The decision to trade Kane comes after a tumultuous season for the forward. He missed the entirety of the regular season due to a combination of injuries. Kane underwent surgery in September to repair two torn hip adductor muscles, two hernias, and two torn lower abdominal muscles. He subsequently had arthroscopic knee surgery in January. Despite these setbacks, Kane returned to the Oilers lineup for the Stanley Cup Playoffs, where he contributed 12 points (six goals, six assists) in 21 games, helping the team reach the Cup Final for the second consecutive year.
For the Canucks, acquiring Kane brings a veteran presence and a scoring touch to their forward ranks. Kane has a history of offensive production throughout his NHL career. He has accumulated 617 points (326 goals, 291 assists) in 930 regular-season games played for the Atlanta Thrashers, Winnipeg Jets, Buffalo Sabres, San Jose Sharks, and Edmonton Oilers. He also has 55 points (32 goals, 23 assists) in 97 playoff games. Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin highlighted Kane's physicality and scoring ability, stating, "Evander is a physical power forward who will add some much-needed size and toughness to our group. We like the way he wins puck battles along the boards and handles himself in the dirty areas in front of the net... We are excited to bring him back home to Vancouver and our staff looks forward to working with him this coming season."
The trade also marks a homecoming for Kane, who grew up in Vancouver and previously played for the Vancouver Giants of the Western Hockey League. In his statement on X, Kane expressed his excitement about joining the Canucks, saying, "It's an honor to become part of an organization and team I grew up watching as a kid... Vancouver is a city that lives and breathes hockey, I'm looking forward to the opportunity to play in front of my hometown as I did many years ago as a Vancouver Giant."
The Oilers' motivation for trading Kane appears to be primarily driven by salary cap considerations. With the NHL salary cap expected to rise in the coming seasons, teams are looking for financial flexibility to manage their rosters and pursue other player acquisitions. Moving Kane's $5.125 million cap hit provides the Oilers with greater flexibility as they aim to build a Stanley Cup-winning team.
The Canucks, on the other hand, are adding a proven scorer with playoff experience. Kane's addition could provide a boost to their offense and add a different dimension to their forward group. It remains to be seen how Kane will fit into the Canucks' lineup and what impact he will have on their overall performance.
