Former Oilers Forward Feels 'Privileged' Joining Canucks

Former Oilers Forward Feels ‘Privileged’ Joining Canucks originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

Evander Kane changed address this offseason following a trade to the Vancouver Canucks from the Edmonton Oilers, with whom he reached the Stanley Cup Final in back-to-back seasons, both ending in losses to the Florida Panthers.

The move, completed right before the start of free agency, means the 33-year-old winger will finally play for his hometown team in the NHL.

Kane played for the Atlanta Thrashers, Winnipeg Jets, Buffalo Sabres and San Jose Sharks before he joined the Oilers ahead of the 2021-22 season.

“Being able to put on a Vancouver Canucks uniform is really special,” Kane said on the “Canucks Insider Podcast” on Friday. “I grew up watching the Canucks. Markus Naslund was my favorite Canuck growing up by far. ”

Kane, who missed the entire 2024–25 regular season due to multiple surgeries, contributed 12 points in 21 playoff games for Edmonton.

The veteran forward is under contract for one more season before completing the four-year, $5.125 million deal he signed with the Oilers in 2022.

“I have a lot of friends that I grew up with that have always been Canucks fans,” Kane said during his introductory press conference. “I know what hockey means in the city, and I know what the Canucks mean to the people here, so I’m really privileged and honored to be part of that.”

With one year left on his current deal, Kane will enter next season healthy and motivated to play in Vancouver with a milestone in mind.

“Being able to get my body right, have the surgeries I had, and get back to 100 percent was a nice kind of reset for me,” Kane said. “Hopefully that can translate onto the ice.”

Edmonton Oilers left wing Evander Kane (91) reacts after scoring a goal.Perry Nelson-Imagn Images

Kane has appeared in 930 regular-season games spanning 15 seasons, and if is only 70 games shy of breaking the 1,000-game barrier. Assuming he stays healthy and avoids injuries throughout most of next season, he’ll get there donning the Canucks jersey.

“It probably hasn’t even sunk in 100 percent yet,” Kane said. “Just because, you know, you haven’t had a practice, and you haven’t gone out there and played a game in front of your hometown … .

“I think [it ‘d do] once training camp gets rolling and you actually get on the ice and [let] hockey kind of take over.”

Kane has scored 617 total points throughout those 930 regular-season games, along with 55 points in 97 postseason outings.

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 27, 2025, where it first appeared.

Former Oilers Forward Feels ‘Privileged’ Joining Canucks

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