On Wednesday, the Edmonton Oilers traded Evander Kane to the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for a fourth-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. At first glance, it might seem puzzling that the Oilers dealt a top-nine winger for just the 114th overall pick. And to a division rival, no less. But the message is clear: Edmonton is desperate to free cap space. Sure, betting on Kane to stay focused and produce in a contract year could’ve paid off. But it was a luxury the Oilers simply couldn’t afford. Could they have landed a better return by retaining part of Kane’s $5.125 million cap hit? Probably. But that wasn’t the goal. For GM Stan Bowman, the priority was shedding salary. And there’s a good chance he’s not done yet. With Kane’s full cap hit off the books, the Oilers now have just over $18 million in cap space, with nine forwards, six defensemen, and two goalies under contract. That might sound like a healthy cushion, but it won’t last long once deals start getting signed. Trent Frederic’s expected extension (like
