Media reveals top trade destination for Evander Kane

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Finnegan Frost
September 25, 2024 (10:15)

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When healthy, Evander Kane is one of the top scorers on the Edmonton Oilers.

At 6-foot-2 and 210 pounds, he's not afraid to get down and dirty either. On top of his scoring prowess, he's known to be the Oilers top enforcer, sticking up for his fellow teammates when called upon. But with a modified no trade clause kicking in March 1st, its decision time.

First off, i just want to emphasize the I don't think the Oilers should consider trading Evander Kane. He's proven himself a valuable asset on the team, and the team will be needing his grit come playoff time. As much as I hope Kane stays in Edmonton, it doesn't diminish the elephant in the room regarding his overall health and imminent LTIR status.

Sure, Kane will be on long-term injured reserve (LTIR) given he'll be sidelined for five to six months while recovering from surgery, but the fact remains that the Oilers will still need to resolve their salary cap issues once he returns. Unless he just so happens to return for the first game of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, of course. As a result, the best option for both Kane and Edmonton may be to seek a trade.

The Edmonton Oilers facing a salary cap crunch and his future with the team is unfortunately, anything but certain. With two years remaining on his current contract and a salary of $5.1 million per year, he could prove to be the perfect trade chip for the Oilers to soothe their financial woes while addressing a growing logjam at the top of their lineup.

According to The Hockey Writers, they feel like if GM Stan Bowman were to pull the trigger on a trade, the Anaheim Ducks would make the most sense.

With more than $20 million in projected salary cap space to begin the 2024-25 season, the Anaheim Ducks could be an ideal landing spot for Kane. However, this destination isn't solely about money. A move to Anaheim would not only keep him relatively close to home, but it would also allow him to play a significant role with an up-and-coming young Ducks team. Laden with high-end prospects and incredible young talent, a move to Anaheim would see Kane land a role in the Ducks' top-six where he could help to lead and protect the team's young core.

From a financial perspective, taking on Kane's remaining contract would be of little concern to Anaheim. While Mason McTavish will be due for a contract extension and raise at the end of this season, the bulk of the Ducks' key young players already hold long-term deals with the team. Moreover, those who don't still boast multiple years on their respective entry-level contracts won't come calling for a pay increase for a few seasons. Anaheim used to be known for their hard, heavy and skilled style of play, and landing Kane would do wonders in helping them to reclaim that identity.

With that being said, Evander Kane just recently built a new house in the City of Edmonton, further emphasizing his commitment to being an Oiler long-term. GM Stan Bowman has his work cut out for him, but let's hope that Evander pulls a Mark Stone and activates for the playoffs in full form.

source: The Hockey Writers
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