The NHL trade deadline seems to have a whole bunch of names popping up. It doesn't matter if it's the Vegas Golden Knights acquiring Rasmus Andersson or the Minnesota Wild grabbing Quinn Hughes and boosting his melancholic mood. The rumor mill is alive and well this time of year.
That includes fans watching games on Sportsnet, where the rumors can come completely out of left field.
Sportsnet just showed McCrimmon in Seattle implying he was there to watch Kane. @SinBinVegas @JRPothier
— Steve (@bamf) March 1, 2026
No. No.
In case you're wondering who's being talked about here, that would be long-time Golden Knights nemesis Evander Kane.
I kid you not. Hopefully, the rumors of the Golden Knights pursuing Kane aren't true. It would be one of the most head-scratching moves made by McCrimmon. Believe it or not, the past offseason has had plenty of these since July, leaving fans feeling underwhelmed.
But let's look at that sighting for a second. There are plenty of reasons why this would be one of the worst ideas ever concocted by Kelly McCrimmon. Obviously, there would be anarchy in the streets of Las Vegas, with the Strip occupied by angry Golden Knights fans. There's also a statistical "un-incentive" from acquiring Evander Kane. And no, it isn't just because of that infamous photo of him blowing kisses to a Golden Knights fan, either.
Why Kelly McCrimmon and the Vegas Golden Knights must avoid Evander Kane at all costs
First, Kane isn't the best fit for the Golden Knights. The franchise is known for having a tight-knit locker room. That means leaders step up and players take charge whenever something goes wrong. While the Vancouver Canucks forward would be nice from an antagonist standpoint, would it help the team during the Stanley Cup playoffs?
That's especially true from a statistical standpoint. Kane has had a noticeable decline in his production, ranging from his goals to his shooting (stats courtesy of MoneyPuck).
Season | Games Played | Goals | Assists | Goals Above Shooting Talent | Shooting Percentage | Corsi | Fenwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2021-22 | 43 | 22 | 17 | 3.3 | 14.5% | 57% | 56% |
2022-23 | 41 | 16 | 12 | 0.2 | 11% | 53% | 52% |
2023-24 | 77 | 24 | 20 | -7.6 | 10.9% | 54% | 54% |
2025-26 | 57 | 10 | 16 | -3.5 | 7.1% | 52% | 51% |
On the surface, the stats might seem out of whack. However, the games played are the catch here. He missed the entire 2024-25 regular season so he could repair two torn hip adductor muscles, two hernias, and two torn lower abdominal muscles. Of course, this has also come from freak injuries, including being cut by literal skate blades. However, the premise is still the same: Kane is breaking down.
Besides, depth scoring isn't the biggest issue with the Golden Knights. Vegas has other problems at hand, including a weak goaltending room and a wave of injuries they're recovering from. The good news is that the team is gaining back key pieces, including Colton Sissons and Brayden McNabb.
These players are important enough to impact the game. You get your stay-at-home defenseman and a late-game closer and penalty killer who wins face-offs. Still, other issues are at play, including a team that's insubordinate to start the game. If anything, the burden falls on the team's mentality, where they must be ready from the get-go.
Therefore, there's no real reason to pick up a player like Kane. Even if this is harmless hearsay, pulling the trigger can undo everything the team has in the present—and the future. I know the Golden Knights want to win now. But is it worth going out for another deal after spending so much for another star?