Evander Kane has honest message to Canucks fans after playing for rival Oilers

On a podcast entitled, in fact, 'Coming Home with Evander Kane, host Chris Faber asked the former 4th overall draft pick what it means to return to Vancouver and put on the jersey he'd worn as kid.

That may very well be true as Vancouver Canuck, being unfamiliar with the team. As a junior, however, he played for Vancouver of the WHL at the age of 15, and is quite familiar with the Vancouver hockey-crazy market, where his hockey roots were set at a quite a young age.

He played 8 seasons in the WHL, all of then with Vancouver, and in 2006-07, won the Memorial Cup. And since he was still rookie-eligible the following season, 2007-08, Kane was the finalist for the Jim Piggott Memorial Award, as the WHL's top rookie.

And being a kid from Vancouver, and a Canucks fan, Evander Kane spoke about how he felt now that he'd be playing for his childhood team.

Whether by design, or because he just developed into the type of player that he is, it is easy to see why Naslund was Kane's hockey-hero growing up. Both are talented forwards that can score, and who play with an edge, though Evander Kane played with a bit more physicality than Naslund did in his 12 years with the Canucks.

Over his career, Naslund has a points-per-game ratio of 0.77, while Kane's is 0.66. Naslund played 1117 career games, and scored 395G and 474A, while Kane has 326G and 291A, over 930 career games played, so their numbers are not too far apart.

There is a good chance that Evander Kane will reach 1000 NHL games next season, a mark that is fitting for the former Oiler, given that he began his career in Vancouver.

It will not take long for Evander Kane to endear himself to Canucks fans once the 20255-26 season begins in October, given his aggressive style of play, and the no-quit motor he displays game to game. And since he himself is a Canucks fan, I'm certain the sentiment will be mutual.