Canucks' Evander Kane Getting Interest From The East

The Vancouver Canucks have no other logical choice than to continue to sell. They are dead last in the league with 41 points in 54 games and have already traded Quinn Hughes and Kiefer Sherwood. They have to get as much out of their pending UFAs and even others as they can and commit to a rebuild or big changes.

Evander Kane is going to be gone one way or another by the end of the season as he doesn't fit in the plans for the Canucks and hasn't had the most impactful season. He has nine goals and 24 points in 52 games while averaging close to 17 minutes per game and the veteran has 89 hits.

Kane doesn't seem as invested. His hitting is down and his offensive production is down due to the bad team. He had scored at least 20 goals in a season for eight of his past nine seasons and only slightly missed due to playing just 41 games.

David Pagnotta reported, "The Canucks continue having trade talks involving Evander Kane. I'm told Vancouver is willing to retain part of his salary, want a prospect and/or draft pick in return. Some teams in the East have engaged." He also said, "Kane's agent has permission to talk to teams." Kane has a 16-team approved trade list, so that permission for his agent could be involving a possible extension where he's going, or to expand that amount of teams the 34-year-old would be willing to go to in the last year of his deal.

Kane has a $5.125 million AAV cap hit, and if the Canucks are willing to retain some money, that makes him a more desirable piece for teams to target. Kane has proven he is a playoff performer with his style of play, especially in his four runs with the Edmonton Oilers where he racked up 26 goals and 42 points in 68 playoff games.

The Canucks are only retaining on one player until the end of the season, so they have space to do so for two more at this time. Using one on Kane to get a better return or what they're looking for makes a lot of sense, especially since Vancouver managed not to have to for Hughes. The Canucks can retain up to $2.56 million themselves, so dangling a nine-time 20-goal scorer who's physical for that cap hit will attract more attention from just teams in the East by the deadline.