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Could the Canucks trade Evander Kane to the Kings?
The Vancouver Canucks are undoubtedly a team to watch between now and the 2026 NHL trade deadline. With the Canucks being the NHL’s worst team, they are standing out as one of the league’s top sellers this deadline season.
The Canucks have already shown that they are committed to rebuilding as well. They first traded former captain Quinn Hughes to the Minnesota Wild back in December. They then traded pending unrestricted free agent (UFA) forward Kiefer Sherwood to the San Jose Sharks last month. However, with the Canucks being open for business, more of their veterans should be on the move by the time the trade deadline gets here.
Evander Kane is undoubtedly a Canucks trade candidate now that February is here. It is understandable, as he is a pending UFA and could be a nice addition for a playoff club looking to boost their forward group. Furthermore, at 34 years old, it is clear that Kane is not a long-term fit for the Canucks’ rebuild.
Due to this, we here at Heavy Sports have a trade pitch that would have the Canucks sending Kane to the Los Angeles Kings in a Pacific Division swap.
Kings Get:
- Evander Kane (50% retained)
Canucks Get:
Evander Kane Has Been Linked to the Los Angeles Kings
With Kane expected to be on the move before the deadline, he was included on Nick Kypreos’ latest trade board for Sportsnet. Kypreos also reported that the Kings are one of the clubs that are interested in acquiring Kane from the Canucks.
“No doubt, Vancouver would be willing to use one of its two remaining salary-retention slots on Kane to make him a more appealing asset. The Los Angeles Kings are one team with some level of interest,” Kypreos wrote.
Hearing that the Kings are interested in Kane is not necessarily surprising. When looking at their current roster, it is clear that they could use another top-nine forward who contributes offensively and plays with an edge. If they acquired Kane, he would give them just that.
When looking at the Kings’ current lines, Kane could slot nicely on their third line. However, due to his ability to play both wings, he could also be a fit in their top six if brought in. Furthermore, he would also give them another skilled player to work with on their power play.
Evander Kane Generating Interest From Other Clubs
While the Kings have been connected to Kane, they are not the only team that has been linked to the 6-foot-2, 218-pound winger. According to ESPN’s Kevin Weekes, the Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche are “among the likely destinations” for Kane. With this, the Kings have some competition in the Kane sweepstakes.
Yet, with Kane being a big forward who produces offensively and has a lot of playoff experience, it would not be surprising if more teams entered the mix for services. It will be interesting to see where the veteran forward ends up, but the Kings look like a good landing spot on paper.
Michael DeRosa Michael covers the NHL for Heavy.com. He has professionally covered the NHL since 2017 and has written for other publications like The Hockey News, BetMGM, Athlon Sports, and The Hockey Writers. More about Michael DeRosa
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