Evander Kane is headed to the Vancouver Canucks.
The Edmonton Oilers traded Kane to the Canucks in exchange for a fourth-round pick in the 2025 NHL draft. The selection originally belonged to the Ottawa Senators. Vancouver takes on Kane's $5.125-million cap hit for the last season of his four-year contract, according to Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravalli.
Kane, 33, released a statement on social media thanking the Oilers for the past four years and saying he's excited to join the Canucks.
"As my time with the Edmonton Oilers has now come to a close, I want to take a moment to sincerely thank the entire organization, my teammates, and the incredible community of Edmonton," Kane said in his statement.
"To the Oilers ownership, front office, coaching staff, and trainers — thank you for believing in me and giving me the opportunity to be a part of such a respected and passionate franchise. Your support meant everything, and I’ll always be grateful for the chance to compete in the blue and orange."
Kane signed with the Oilers on Jan. 27, 2022, after the San Jose Sharks terminated his contract earlier that month. He had six goals and six assists for 12 points in 21 playoff games. He missed the regular season after having surgery in September to repair two torn hip adductor muscles, two hernias and two torn lower abdominal muscles. He then had knee surgery on Jan. 9
Kane had 22 goals and 39 points in 43 games in 2021-22 when he joined Edmonton. In 2022-23, those totals dropped to 16 goals and 28 points in 41 games. In 2023-24, he had 24 goals and 44 points in 77 games.
"To my teammates — thank you for the battles, the friendships, and the memories," Kane said. "I’ll always remember the playoff runs, the highs and lows, and the pride of going to war with a special group of guys."
The 6-foot-2 left winger from Vancouver will join his sixth NHL team. He first played for the Atlanta Thrashers, which drafted him fourth overall in 2009. The Thrashers relocated to Winnipeg ahead of the 2011-12 season. The Winnipeg Jets traded him to the Buffalo Sabres in 2015, and Buffalo traded him to San Jose in 2018.
Kane made the playoffs for the first time with the Sharks, playing in two post-seasons for them. In Edmonton, he appeared in four playoff campaigns.
"To the fans — thank you for embracing me and showing unwavering support throughout my time in Edmonton," Kane said. "Rogers Place was always electric, and I’m proud to have played in front of such a passionate hockey city. My family and I have built some incredible relationships that will last forever."
Before Kane made the NHL, he played for the WHL's Vancouver Giants for parts of three regular seasons and four post-seasons.
"I’m incredibly excited for the next chapter of my career as I join the Canucks," Kane said. "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."
Canucks GM Patrik Allvin said Kane will provide much-needed size and toughness to the team.
"We like the way he wins puck battles along the boards and handles himself in the dirty areas in front of the net," Allvin said in a news release. "Evander moves well around the ice and has proven to be a productive goal-scorer in the National Hockey League. We are excited to bring him back home to Vancouver, and our staff looks forward to working with him this coming season.”
After the trade, the Canucks have about $7.03 million in projected cap space, according to PuckPedia. They have three pending UFAs: right winger Brock Boeser, center Pius Suter and defenseman Noah Juulsen.
The Oilers, meanwhile, have about $17.09 million in space. Defenseman Evan Bouchard is a pending RFA with arbitration rights and is expected to take a big chunk out of that cap space. The Oilers' pending UFAs are Jeff Skinner, Trent Frederic, Corey Perry, Connor Brown, Kasperi Kapanen and John Klingberg.
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