NHL Rumors: Canucks expected to trade penalty-prone Evander Kane, claims top insider

Trade speculation around Vancouver Canucks forward Evander Kane is growing. His production this season has been modest. Kane has three goals and eight assists for 11 points in 23 games. His offense has mostly come in team wins, and he has struggled in losses.

During the Real Kyper & Bourne podcast, NHL insider Rick Dhaliwal said the veteran winger is likely to be moved. Dhaliwal noted Kane plays heavy minutes but takes too many penalties.

"He's playing 18 minutes tonight on the 30th-place team map board," Dhaliwal said. "He takes a lot of penalties. He drives the fan base here nuts with the penalties, and it took him 18-19 games to get a goal.

"Look, he's going to be moved here. He's one of the guys that, when the Canucks could not send out the memo last night. He's one of the guys that's going to get moved. There's no question."

Evander Kane has a minus-six rating and 36 penalty minutes. He still brings physical play and experience, but has not provided consistent scoring. Dhaliwal believes the Canucks viewed him as a short-term stopgap rather than a long-term fit.

"Look, he was a stop one year stopgap," Dhaliwal said. "They didn't have anybody on the wings in the top six. They took a chance. And look, he's getting up there in age. I think he's got six goals in his last 40-50 games, right? He's not a young buck anymore, right? He's getting up there in an aged body.

"Look what he went through last year in Edmonton. He didn't even play in the regular season, right? So, ... he's played a ton of Edmonton playoff games. You know, the body takes the beating year after year of all those long playoff runs... So I just don't see a long term play for Kane and Vancouver at all."

Dhaliwal said there is no long-term plan for Kane in Vancouver. He expects the forward to be moved as the season progresses.

Evander Kane's trade has not met Vancouver's expectations

Evander Kane was acquired from the Edmonton Oilers for a fourth-round pick last June. Vancouver hoped he would bring size and grit to their forward group. Kane is now 34 and in the final year of a four-year, $20.5 million contract.

However, the Canucks have had a difficult season overall. They sit at 9-12-2 and near the bottom of the Pacific Division. Their scoring remains solid at three goals per game. But they allow 3.74 goals per game, which is the worst in the league. Defensive issues, weak penalty killing, and shaky goaltending have held them back.

With the Canucks struggling, a trade could help them reshuffle their roster. Evander Kane may draw interest from teams seeking depth, experience, and physical play.