The Vancouver Canucks are enduring a nightmare season. They sit at the bottom of the NHL standings with a 16-28-5 record and have now dropped 11 straight games, most recently falling 4-3 to the New York Islanders on Monday night.
As the losses continue to mount, an NHL insider has pointed to one offseason move that is starting to look especially costly: the decision to bring in a former $20.5 million Oilers winger.
Canucks’ Stance on Former Oilers Winger Under Growing Scrutiny
That move involves former Edmonton Oilers winger Evander Kane. Vancouver acquired Kane from the Oilers in exchange for a fourth-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, betting that the veteran could bring scoring punch and a physical edge to a lineup that needed both. So far, it hasn’t worked out for either side.
Kane is in the last season of his four-year, $20.5 million deal, and the results just haven’t been worth the money. In 48 games, he’s managed just seven goals and 22 points. He leads Vancouver in penalty minutes with 55, and his overall influence has been minimal, with a minus-19 rating underscoring his issues at both ends of the ice.
The Athletic’s Thomas Drance and Harman Dayal took a hard look at Kane’s season in Vancouver, and their evaluation was candid.
“Kane’s Vancouver homecoming hasn’t worked for either side,” was the verdict. They noted that the Canucks expected Kane’s homecoming to boost their offense and bring a heavy presence up front. Instead, his physical game has been muted, and his offensive production has been largely underwhelming.
According to The Athletic, “The market for Kane’s services on the trade market at the moment is largely lukewarm.” That reality puts the Canucks in a tough spot.
“Whatever it takes. If the Canucks don’t find a way to net a second-round pick (or equivalent value) in a Kane return, then the trade to acquire him will stand out as one of the most costly deals in franchise history,” they said. It is not because of the original price paid, but because of the opportunity cost of carrying his $5.125 million cap hit during a critical season.
Even so, there is still an argument that Kane could have value to the right team. Despite his struggles, he remains a big, playoff-tested winger on pace for roughly 37 points. For teams lacking size or experience up front, those traits could be appealing when the postseason arrives.
Finding a trade partner, however, may require creativity. Vancouver could explore retaining up to 50 percent of Kane’s salary, attaching a mid-round pick, bundling him with another veteran, or even taking back an inefficient contract to make a deal work.
For now, the Canucks will try to regroup as they next face the Washington Capitals on Wednesday night.
