Perry Nelson-Imagn Images

Former Oilers Forward Feels 'Privileged' Joining Canucks

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Antonio Losada | Last updated Jul 27, 2025 9:50 AM ET

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, the Winnipeg Jets, the Buffalo Sabres, and the 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. ”

Episode 25: Coming Home with Evander Kane

Chris Faber is joined by Evander Kane and discusses returning home to Vancouver, his excitement about playing with Quinn Hughes, and more!

STREAM NOW | https://t.co/mifTcXoegt pic.twitter.com/JrpbNkLprT
— Canucks Insider (@CanucksInsider) July 25, 2025

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 honoured 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.”

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 you're 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 article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: