The Vancouver Canucks will undoubtedly be a team to watch once the NHL Olympic roster freeze is over. This is because they will be one of the league’s biggest sellers leading up to the 2026 NHL trade deadline.
It is not hard to understand why the Canucks are ready to do more selling. After entering this season with the hope of bouncing back, they have taken a massive step in the wrong direction. They are currently at the bottom of the NHL standings with an abysmal 18-33-6 record. Due to their struggles, they have also already traded defenseman Quinn Hughes and forward Kiefer Sherwood this season.
Yet, with the Canucks being the NHL’s worst team, more of their players are expected to be moved. One of Vancouver’s top trade candidates is veteran forward Evander Kane. The 34-year-old winger is in the final season of his four-year, $20.5 million contract and is a pending unrestricted free agent (UFA). The Canucks have also given Kane’s agent permission to seek a trade, so a move centering around the hard-nosed forward seems inevitable.
When looking at potential suitors for Kane, the Dallas Stars undoubtedly stand out. The Stars undoubtedly could use another gritty top-nine forward, and Kane would have the potential to provide them with just that.
Because of this, Heavy Sports has a trade pitch that would have the Canucks move Kane to the Stars in a Western Conference swap.
Stars Get:
- Evander Kane (50% Retained)
Canucks Get:
- 2026 Third-Round Pick (From Seattle Kraken)
Stars Have Been Linked to Canucks’ Kane This Season
The Stars are certainly a team to watch when it comes to Kane. NHL insider Kevin Weekes reported last month that the Stars and Colorado Avalanche are among the top suitors for Kane.
“Per multiple sources, I’m told the Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche are among the likely destinations for Canucks forward Kane via potential trade,” Weekes posted on X.
The Stars being among the teams connected to Kane is easy to understand. When looking at their top nine, it is clear that it could use a boost, and bringing in Kane could give them that. This is because the veteran forward is capable of providing solid secondary scoring and plenty of grit when playing at his best. He would also give the Stars another option to work with on their power play.
Kane has had a bit of a tough season for his standards with the Canucks, though. In 56 games this season, the 6-foot-2 forward has recorded nine goals, 16 assists, and 25 points. Yet, given his past success, he is a bounce-back candidate and could rebound playing on a top team like Dallas.
Kane Should Generate More Interest as Trade Deadline Gets Closer
With Kane being a big power forward with a lot of playoff experience, he has the potential to generate a good amount of interest between now and the deadline. Teams like the Colorado Avalanche, Los Angeles Kings, and Tampa Bay Lightning have been linked to him in addition to the Stars.
Nevertheless, it is going to be interesting to see where Kane ends up landing from here. The Stars, on paper, look like a good fit.
Canucks Trade Pitch Sends Evander Kane to Big Contender