Canucks' owner played personal role in recent trade with Edmonton Oilers

According to a recent episode of Sekeres and Price, Aquilini had coveted Evander Kane for some time, and instructed Vancouver's management to acquire the former Oiler, if and when he became available.

Mr. Aquilini, and the Vancouver Canucks, got what the boss had hoped for, and traded for Evander Kane from the Oilers for a 2025 4th-round draft pick. Kane is in the final year of a 4-year contract that has an AAV of $5.125M.

For the Edmonton Oilers, the trade made available $5M plus in cap space for Stan Bowman to use for his team's more pressing demands. For Evander Kane, the trade saw him move to a destination of his choice; though he had a list of 15 teams to which he could be traded, the Canucks were his first choice.

Though he didn't give specific reasons for coveting Evander Kane, it is quite obvious why Francesco Auilini would want a player of Kane's stature playing for his club. Skating on a top line, perhaps, with Filip Chytil and Conor Garland, Kane has the potential to improve the team's offensive game, something the Canucks were hoping to address this offseason. He also adds a physical component to a lineup that is not very aggressive.

During the 2024-25 regular season with the Oilers, Evander Kane scored 24G and 20A in 77GP, and 6G and 6A in 21 playoff games played. Kane has the ability to bolster Vancouver's offense as well as their physical game. In 930 career games, he scored 326G and 291A.

Evander Kane had signed with the Oilers as a free agent, on January 2022, after his contract was terminated by the Sharks. In his first year with Edmonton, Evander recorded 39 points in 43 regular season games, and 17 points (13G, 4A) in 15 playoff games, tying Nathan MacKinnon for most goals in that year's playoffs.

Only few skilled players possess the physical and skill that Kane does. It is the reason he was highly sought after, and why Canucks' head coach Adam Foote will likely utilize Kane in high leverage situations.