The Edmonton Oilers have officially begun purging their roster following consecutive Stanley Cup Final losses. News of Evander Kane’s trade to Elias Pettersson’s Vancouver Canucks sent shockwaves across the NHL. However, the forward shared an honest message for Connor McDavid and his former teammates.
Changes were due in Edmonton after yet another letdown in the NHL’s biggest stage. Kane’s departure might only be the first of many crucial decisions the Oilers will make on McDavid’s teammates.
The Canucks are definitely an odd team to acquire Kane, though. Few would have thought Vancouver would trade for a player as controversial as Kane, especially after last season’s experience. In a way, it seems the Canucks never learn. Or, perhaps, they actually learned from Pettersson’s scenario and have now mastered how to deal with such high-profile personalities in the NHL.
Set to board his flight to Vancouver, Kane packs his bags in Edmonton, where he experienced peaks and valleys through his three seasons in Alberta. Now, he joins another Canadian market desperate for Stanley Cup success.
McDavid looks on from the bench during Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final, reflecting a decade of leadership with the Oilers.
“I want to take a moment to sincerely thank the entire organization, my teammates, and the incredible community of Edmonton,” Evander Kane started his farewell text on his X account. “To my teammates—thank you for the battles, the friendships, and the memories. I’ll always remember the playoff runs, the highs and lows, and the pride of going to war with a special group of guys.”
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Rolling the dice
Kane’s arrival in Vancouver is one big question mark in the NHL. His presence could be the perfect mix of unraveled, rogue playstyle to help out Pettersson and company—that’s looking at the glass half full. A more pessimistic thinker might say the Canucks are brewing a dangerous cocktail.
Regardless, the Canucks are running a risky investment on Kane. Vancouver traded only a fourth-round pick for the former Oilers forward, which isn’t too much a gamble. However, it still feels like a last-ditch effort in more ways than one. The message is clear: Vancouver wants its first Cup, and it is willing to run a risky experiment.
Kane is entering the final year of his contract with a cap hit of $5.125M, which the Canucks are taking up entirely. He will either prove himself and earn an extension or make his case in next year’s free agency, or his stock could plummet in the NHL.
Elias Pettersson #40 of the Vancouver Canucks poses for a portrait prior to the 2023 NHL All-Star Game at FLA Live Arena on February 04, 2023 in Sunrise, Florida.
Ready to get to work
“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,” Kane admitted. “I’m looking forward to the opportunity to play in front of my hometown as I did many years ago as a Vancouver Giant.”
