The Vancouver Canucks have officailly confirmed what was earlier reported, that the club has traded a 2025 fourth-round pick – originally traded for Vasily Podkolzin – to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for winger Evander Kane.
General Manager Patrik Allvin released this statement following the roster move:
“Evander is a physical power forward who will add some much-needed size and toughness to our group,” said Allvin. “We like the way he wins puck battles along the boards and handles himself in the dirty areas in front of the net. 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.”
Kane signed a one-year $2.11 million contract with the Oilers in January of 2022. In his first year in Edmonton, Kane scored 22 goals and 17 assists for 39 points with a plus-25 rating in 43 games. The former Atlanta Thrashers’ fourth overall pick followed that up with an even more impressive postseason run, scoring 13 goals and four assists for 17 points in 15 playoff games.
The 6’2″, 218-lbs winger showed his worth to the Oilers in the playoffs, earning him a four-year, $5.125 million deal in Edmonton that offseason. The Vancouver, BC native tallied 40 goals and 32 assists for 72 points in 118 games through his next two seasons, playing alongside two of the NHL’s best forwards in Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.
After suffering multiple abdominal injuries in Edmonton’s Stanley Cup run last season, the Oilers announced Kane would miss the start of the 2024-2025 season. There was a belief he would return sometime in the new year, but Kane would not be ready for game action until Game 2 of the opening playoff series against the Los Angeles Kings.
The power forward suited up in 21 games this postseason run, scoring six goals and six assists for 12 points. Kane added 44 penalty minutes and 47 shots on goal in 16:29 minutes over average ice time.
