As first impressions go, Evander Kane made a strong one Thursday afternoon at Rogers Arena. Strolling into the media room in a sharp, double-breasted blue and green blazer, the newest member of the Vancouver Canucks said all the right things as he answered questions for 15 minutes about Wednesday’s trade that now sees him playing for his hometown team.
Without a doubt, Kane has a presence, and it was on full display as he spoke with ease at the podium. He addressed hockey matters and didn’t shy away when the subject turned to some of the off-ice transgressions that have followed him throughout his 16 years in the National Hockey League.
Now, when the puck drops for Kane’s first game in Canuck colours in October, nothing that he said in his introductory media availability will matter. He will be judged by the way he plays the game and the way he carries himself.
But in terms of setting the tone for his time with the Canucks, Kane sounds confident that he can bring the rugged and aggressive style he’s displayed throughout his career to his fifth NHL franchise.
“Yeah, I’ve played that style ever since I was eight years old here in Vancouver,” he said, pointing to his days of minor hockey in East Vancouver. “Nothing is going to change, nothing is really changing in how I play or what I bring on the ice. I’m very confident in what I can do and Vancouver’s going to provide me a really good opportunity to do that.”
Kane will play next season on an expiring contract that will pay him $5.125 million, making him the third-highest-paid forward on the team right now behind Elias Pettersson and Jake DeBrusk.
He’s heard the chatter that the final year of his deal should help to keep him focused and motivated.
“I’ve never heard so many people talk about a contract year when it comes to me when there are so many other guys in contract years it’s just incredible,” he said with a laugh. “I know I bring a lot of attention to a room and to a press conference – especially in a Canadian market – but I think every year I’ve played in the National Hockey League I’ve always wanted to put my best foot forward and work as hard as I possibly could and I don’t think anyone can question that. And this year’s going to be no different.”
Kane, who missed all of last regular season due to injury before playing 21 games in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, will turn 34 in August. With 930 NHL regular season games and 97 more in the postseason, the veteran winger has been through his share of battles.
However, he believes that those eight months off, from September through April, allowed his body to heal. And he thinks the lack of wear and tear last season will help him moving forward.
“Being able to get my body right and getting back to one-hundred percent was a nice reset for me,” he explained. “For me, the time off and getting healthy has kind of allowed me to roll the clock back a little bit in my opinion and hopefully that can translate onto the ice.”
As for those who question the Canucks’ wisdom in bringing a mercurial player into the mix after a season plagued by locker room dysfunction, Kane hopes to prove his many doubters wrong with his performance on the ice.
He’s well aware that many still question his character, but thinks he’s shown an ability to repeatedly play through the noise and believes he’s stronger now than ever.
“Character is a word that gets tossed out casually and it can often be used as a weapon when describing somebody,” he said. “I think what real character is is somebody shows you who they are when there is scrutiny and adversity and how they handle that. Obviously there have been some difficult times for myself, but I think I’ve come out of it better off and better for it. You learn and you grow each and every year and for me that’s no different.”
Kane says he’s excited to pull on a Canucks jersey – he confirmed he will wear his familiar number 91 – and pointed to the atmosphere for Game 7 between the Canucks and Oilers a year ago as one of the loudest rinks he’s ever played in.
He was on the opposing side then. He’s hoping to win Canucks fans over now that he’s been brought into the fold. And if his game nights go as smoothly as his first press conference, then there is reason to believe Evander Kane can help the hockey club.
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