Insiders Drop 2 Nuggets of Intel on Evander Kane Price Tag & Trade Timeline

Vancouver Canucks forward Evander Kane skates during pregame warm-up

Evander Kane and his camp have been given permission by the Vancouver Canucks to talk to teams to try to find him a new destination.

Insider Elliotte Friedman revealed the latest on Kane, while speaking with NHL Network:

I think we've known for some time now that they would like to move him, and he would like to go to a playoff team... But I think it appears likely that he may be a post-Olympic Break deal at this point in time.
I think the Canucks are hoping for a third-round pick or something like that. They are willing to retain (salary) if it allow allows them to get a little bit more and drive the price of that up.

TSN's Farhan Lalji is echoing Friedman's report that a deal is more likely after the Olympics, but he also says that the Canucks would love to get it done sooner in order to avoid continuing to pay Kane's salary through the break.

The 34-year-old is wrapping up a four-year deal with a $5.125 million cap hit.

Kane's off year in Vancouver hasn't scared off Stanley Cup contenders from pursuing him

Kane hasn't had the impact many had hoped in his first season in his hometown, with just nine goals and 24 points in 52 games with a plus-minus rating of a career worst -18.

We heard last week that two Stanley Cup contenders have interest in bringing in the gritty, physical, playoff-hardened forward.

Kane had 26 goals in 68 playoff games in four seasons with the Edmonton Oilers, while dishing out 284 hits.

The Canucks started their sell-off earlier this month by shipping Kiefer Sherwood to the San Jose Sharks. All the rest of their pending unrestricted free agents are also expected to go.