If there is one undeniable truth in the NHL, it’s that regular-season skill gets you to the dance, but black-and-blue hockey wins you the Stanley Cup. According to NHL insider Chris Johnston of The Athletic, the Vancouver Canucks are actively shopping forward Evander Kane, and the league-leading Colorado Avalanche are circling. The asking price? Reportedly just a third-round pick, with Vancouver willing to retain salary.
For a powerhouse contender like the Avalanche, this is the ultimate low-risk, high-reward move that rewards the click for any armchair GM. Colorado doesn’t need top-of-the-lineup superstars, they already boast one of the most terrifying top-six groups in the league. What they need is sandpaper. They need a player who thrives in the messy, high-stakes trenches of playoff hockey. Dropping a veteran bruiser like Kane onto their third line instantly changes the complexion of their roster, making them vastly harder to play against when the whistles get put away in April and May.
The Missing Piece? What Evander Kane Brings to the Avs’ Bottom Six
Watching Evander Kane over the last few seasons, particularly during his deep, battle-tested runs with the Edmonton Oilers, one thing stands out: he absolutely does not wilt under pressure. He actively seeks out contact and has a well-documented knack for scoring back-breaking goals in tight games.
As an NHL analyst, I look at the current landscape of the Western Conference and see heavy, punishing teams. To survive four rounds, you need depth players who can wear down opposing defensemen. At 34 years old, Kane knows exactly what his role is. By plugging him into the third line, Colorado would create matchup nightmares. Opposing coaches would have to choose between deploying their checking line against Nathan MacKinnon’s unit or spending precious energy trying to contain a highly physical, offensively capable third line anchored by Kane.
Salary Cap Magic: How the Avalanche Can Afford the Trade
In the flat-cap era, the math is just as important as the on-ice fit. Kane is currently playing on the final year of his contract with a $5,125,000 cap hit, making him an unrestricted free agent (UFA) this summer. Fortunately, the Avalanche front office has navigated their books masterfully, currently sitting on just over $5.1 million in available space.
If the Vancouver Canucks are willing to retain 50% of Kane’s salary, bringing his cap hit down to a highly manageable $2.56 million for the acquiring team, Colorado can easily absorb his contract without having to send an active roster player back to Vancouver. It’s a clean, efficient hockey trade: the Canucks stockpile a mid-round draft pick for the future, and the Avalanche get a rental mercenary built explicitly for warfare in the spring.
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The post Why Evander Kane to the Avalanche Could Win Them the Stanley Cup appeared first on NHL Trade Rumors.
