Oilers trade winger Evander Kane to Canucks, clear cap space - ESPN

The Edmonton Oilers have traded winger Evander Kane to the Vancouver Canucks, clearing valuable cap space ahead of NHL free agency next month.

Kane, 33, has one more year on his four-year contract that carries a $5.125 million cap hit, and Vancouver is picking up his full salary. The Canucks traded Ottawa's fourth-round pick in 2025 to the Oilers. That pick was actually sent to Vancouver by Edmonton last summer in a trade for forward Vasily Podkolzin.

Kane had a modified 16-team no-trade list. He is a Vancouver native who also played junior hockey in the city.

The veteran winger missed the entire 2024-25 season after multiple surgeries, first to his hip and groin areas and then knee surgery in January. He returned in the Stanley Cup playoffs, scoring 6 goals and 6 assists in 21 games as the Oilers lost to the Florida Panthers for the second straight season in the Final. His main asset was his physicality, as Kane had 44 penalty minutes to lead Edmonton in the postseason.

Kane thanked Oilers players, staff and ownership in a message on X «for believing in me and giving me the opportunity to be a part of such a respected and passionate franchise.» He thanked Oilers fans for «embracing me and showing unwavering support throughout my time in Edmonton.» Kane then said that he's «incredibly excited for the next chapter of my career» with the Canucks.

«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, I'm looking forward to the opportunity to play in front of my hometown as I did many years ago as a Vancouver Giant,» he wrote.

As my time with the <a href=«https://twitter.com/EdmontonOilers?ref_src=» https:>@EdmontonOilers

has now come to a