Breadcrumb Trail Links
SportsHockeyNHLVancouver Canucks
Kane says of Pettersson: “It’s going to be on everybody to help him out and produce offensively.”
Get the latest from Steve Ewen straight to your inbox Sign Up
Published Sep 04, 2025 • Last updated 7 minutes ago • 4 minute read
You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account.
VANCOUVER, B.C., June 26, 2025 – Newly acquired Vancouver Canucks forward Evander Kane talks to media at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, B.C., June 26, 2025. (NICK PROCAYLO/PNG) 10108466A [PNG Merlin Archive] Photo by NICK PROCAYLO /10108466AArticle content
Evander Kane will get a crack to complement Elias Pettersson on the ice soon enough. For now, it’s about complimenting him.
Advertisement 2
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY
Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.
Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events.Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account.The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.
SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES
Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.
Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events.Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account.The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.
REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES
Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.
Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.
THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.
Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.
Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an Account
or
Article content
Kane and Pettersson were among the 17 Vancouver Canucks who took part in an informal skate Wednesday at UBC, prepping for the opening of training camp on Sept. 18 in Penticton.
Article content
Article content
Kane lauded Pettersson’s “bit of a new look,” and “slightly different attitude,” and talked about how success for Vancouver’s forward group “starts with him and it’s going to be on everybody to help him out and produce offensively.”
Pettersson was, of course, a central character in last season’s Canuck soap opera, and the 26-year-old centre slipped to 15 goals and 45 points in 64 regular season games after totalling 102 and then 89 points in the two campaigns previous. Reports out of Sweden this summer have Pettersson putting on muscle and wanting “revenge,” on last season.
Canucks Report
Thanks for signing up!
Article content
Advertisement 3
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
“He’s a guy who obviously skates really well. He’s able to handle the puck through the neutral zone. He has great speed,” Kane, 34, the east Vancouver product and former Vancouver Giants star who came to the Canucks in a June trade with the Edmonton Oilers, said after Wednesday’s skate.
“I’ve played with a couple of guys like that in my career and I think It’s imperative to help them create space through the neutral zone off the rush and, at the same time, let their attributes make yours even better. Getting open, finding the right spot to be to get the puck, reading off of them.”
Kane did play about a third of his 5-on-5 minutes during his three regular seasons with the Oilers on a line with Connor McDavid, who certainly fits the above mentioned scouting report. Vancouver’s top-six forward pack looks set — Pettersson, Kane, Jake DeBrusk, Brock Boeser, Conor Garland, Filip Chytil — so it’s easy to suggest Kane will get a crack to play with Pettersson. You do wonder if the McDavid experience could help them mesh quickly.
Advertisement 4
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
Kane’s a bigger body (6-2, 218 pounds) who plays an edgy game and goes to the high-traffic areas.
“You obviously want to play with the best players available as much as possible,” Kane said of lining up alongside Pettersson. “I anticipate that’s probably going to happen at some point. It will be about using our skill sets to our advantage to build as much chemistry and as much success as possible.”
Kane comes into this season with his own set of question marks. He played 16 minutes a night in the Edmonton Oilers’ run to the Stanley Cup Final last year, but missed the entire regular season with assorted injuries. He had six goals and 12 points in the 21 playoff matchups.
The Oilers were willing to move him to Vancouver for only a fourth-round pick in June’s NHL Draft, looking to get his $5.125 million deal off the books to create cap space. On the other side, it’s a contract year for Kane, and he’ll need to show well in Vancouver to get any sort of term on a new agreement, be it with the Canucks or elsewhere.
Advertisement 5
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
It does seem like he’s enjoying himself, speaking Wednesday about how the Canucks were a “young team with a lot of energy,” and how that’s “fun to be around and gives you a little extra energy.”
Even with missing so much action last year, Kane’s at 930 career regular season games in the NHL, meaning that he’d have a shot at that 1,000 plateau late this coming season if he stays healthy. He’s someone who appreciates the sport’s history.
“You look at the list of how many guys have played 1,000 games in the league and it’s a lot shorter than you think,” Kane said, pointing to the 408 who have managed to do it since the league’s inception in 1917-18. “To have a chance to do that in Vancouver in front of my friends and family would be a little extra special.”
Advertisement 6
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
Kane also has 326 goals in the regular season of his NHL career. He was willing to have a little fun Wednesday with the idea of joining the 168 currently in league history who have 350 or more.
“I’m trying to get 400 this year. Why set the bar so low?” Kane interjected, laughing all the while.
Kane was the fourth overall pick in the 2009 draft, going to the Atlanta Thrashers. He’s tied for third in goals with Chris Krieder among that draft class, trailing Matt Duchene (371) and John Tavares (494).
The fourth-round pick that Vancouver sent to Edmonton was the same selection that Edmonton had sent to Vancouver in the Aug. 18, 2024 trade that landed the Oilers winger Vasili Podkolzin. Edmonton wound up using that No. 117 choice on winger David Lewandowski, 18, a 6-foot-1, 177 pounder who had 15 goals and 39 points in 52 regular season with the WHL’s Saskatoon Blades in 2024-25.
Read More
Canucks: Why this is the year to pass on professional tryouts
Canucks: Is Evander Kane the key to unlock Elias Pettersson rejuvenation?
Article content
Share this article in your social network