Allvin reveals reason why Vancouver Canucks traded for Evander Kane
Vancouver Canucks fans are mixed on the team acquiring Evander Kane, but we now know why the team did it.
Canucks GM Patrik Allvin met with the media on Wednesday shortly after completing the trade with the Edmonton Oilers. Vancouver opted to take on the entirety of Kane’s $5.125 million cap hit in the deal, complicating their cap situation heading into the rest of their summer.
With the team on the verge of losing both Brock Boeser and Pius Suter in free agency, Allvin told reporters that they jumped at the chance of trading for Kane.
“Every team is looking to be harder to play against,” Allvin said. “We felt we had a chance to upgrade our top nine, mid-six, and become a harder team to play against.
“Vancouver was his preferred organization… It means something to us to have a player that is on a one-year deal get a chance to come home.”
"We felt we had a chance to upgrade our top nine, mid-six, and become a harder team to play against."
š£ļø General Manager Patrik Allvin spoke with the media to discuss the trade acquiring Evander Kane, the Abbotsford Canucks, and preparing for free agency. pic.twitter.com/sjJzrCkKII
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) June 25, 2025
The 33-year-old Kane was born and raised in Vancouver, and also played his junior career in the city with the WHL’s Vancouver Giants. It makes sense that he would prefer to play out the last half of his NHL career in the town where it all began.
There are questions about Kane’s fit in the Canucks locker room, especially with all the drama surrounding Elias Pettersson and J.T. Miller last season. The power forward has a history of wearing out his welcome in multiple places, including with the Winnipeg Jets, Buffalo Sabres, and San Jose Sharks.
It doesn’t appear that was the case in Edmonton, however, and Allvin isn’t too concerned about it, even pondering a future extension in Vancouver.
“I think the past is the past with Evander,” Allvin said. “The last couple of years in Edmonton, I think he contributed a lot to the off-ice stuff and helped out in the society there. Having three kids here now, I think he has matured.
“This gives us a chance, and him a chance, to see if this is a fit moving on, and we’re sure hoping so, after this year.”
Kane’s health is another question mark for the Canucks. He missed the entirety of the 2024-25 NHL season recovering from multiple injuries, but did return to play 21 playoff games for Edmonton.
His performance in those playoff games helped convince Allvin that he could be useful for the Canucks.
“Sitting out last year and coming in and performing like he did in the playoffs was pretty impressive,” Allvin said. “I think he will do everything he can to give us what we want and what he’s capable of.
“Evander is one of those guys you hate to play against, but you love to have on your own team.”
Time will tell if this gamble winds up paying off for the Canucks. Kane will certainly bring an edge to Vancouver’s lineup, but concerns around his health and aging curve will remain.