Oilers Shoot Down Reunion Trade Offer from the Canucks

The Edmonton Oilers were asked if they were interested in bringing back Evander Kane and politely declined. The Vancouver Canucks reportedly reached out to the Oilers recently and wanted to know if they had any interest in reuniting with their former winger, and the answer was no thanks.

According to both Rick Dhaliwal and Tom Gazzola, that isn’t an idea they’d like to explore.

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“My Edmonton source told me that ship has sailed for the Oilers,” revealed Dhaliwal. Gazzola also appeared on a local Edmonton radio station and said the Oilers have no desire to revisit that relationship. The time for Kane in Edmonton has come and gone.

It’s not clear what the Canucks offered or wanted, but the trade itself would have been tricky for the Oilers. Because the Canucks can’t retain salary in a directly deal to the Oilers, it would have been Edmonton taking on his full $5.125 million cap. Even if the Oilers sent back Andrew Mangiapane in the deal, the Oilers are adding $1.525 to their books, which they cannot afford to do.

Not to mention, Kane (while not directly a problem in Edmonton), has the type of personality that attracts attention. He’s said things publicly that have questioned coaches and his usage. He’s had a couple of mild run-ins with teammates, and he’s not always healthy. Add all of those things up, and the Oilers might not want another go-round on a declining player.

The Canucks acknowledged they are transitioning into a rebuild, so Kane will be dumped for next to nothing. It’s just not going to be the Oilers who pick up the phone and agree to take on the player or his contract.

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