The 2026 Winter Olympics men’s hockey tournament is drawing to a close, and NHL teams are preparing for a busy trade period. The league’s trade freeze will lift at 11:59 p.m. ET on February 22, opening a 12-day window for franchises to negotiate deals before the March 6 trade deadline. Among the players attracting interest is a former Edmonton Oilers tough forward, who now plays for Vancouver.
Colorado Avalanche Interested in Evander Kane
The Colorado Avalanche are reportedly exploring a move for Evander Kane, a forward the Vancouver Canucks acquired from the Oilers during the offseason to add both scoring and grit to their lineup. However, Kane’s season has fallen short of expectations, with 25 points in 56 games alongside a minus-18 plus-minus rating, while his average ice time stands at 16 minutes and 50 seconds per game.
NHL insider Rick Dhaliwal discussed the trade rumors on the Donnie & Dhali podcast, sharing,
“There’s interest in Evander Kane, I’m told that there’s teams like Colorado, Tampa Bay poking around. Can the Canucks get a second rounder or a third? The Avalanche would need the Canucks to retain,”
highlighting that salary retention by Vancouver could play a crucial role in any deal.
Reasons Behind Colorado’s Pursuit of Kane
Despite a challenging season, Kane’s value remains significant, particularly in the postseason. He has appeared in 97 playoff games, many with Edmonton’s deep Stanley Cup runs, accumulating 32 goals and 55 points. Kane’s physical style and durability over extended series provide qualities favored by playoff contenders.
Dhaliwal emphasized Kane’s postseason impact:
“One thing about Kane, a lot of playoff games, a lot of NHL playoff goals. Big body, can wear teams down, why do thinkg Colorado is interested? They see some value in this player.”
Kane’s attributes could help the Avalanche strengthen their depth and physical presence as they approach the playoffs.
Vancouver’s Strategy and Kane’s Contract Situation
For Vancouver, moving Kane aligns with their current rebuilding path, having recently traded notable players including Quinn Hughes and Kiefer Sherwood. With the Canucks positioned near the bottom of the standings, converting veteran assets into draft picks has become a priority.
Kane is in the last year of a four-year, $20.5 million contract and will enter unrestricted free agency in the summer. Any team acquiring him at this stage would likely view the transaction as a short-term rental unless contract extension talks succeed.
The Canucks are expected to seek a second- or third-round pick in exchange, aiming to get tangible returns before the trade deadline.
Upcoming Trade Deadline Looms
As the trade freeze concludes, NHL teams like the Avalanche will assess whether Vancouver’s asking price matches their valuation of Kane. With limited time before March 6, the negotiations will intensify, and decisions will need to be made swiftly to finalize roster configurations ahead of the playoff push.
