Canucks reportedly attempted to send former Oilers player back to Edmonton, insider reveals

Vancouver's front office has weighed options to move Evander Kane and even kicked the tires on the idea of a reunion with the Edmonton Oilers.

According to the Canucks' insider Rick Dhaliwal, he hasn't checked in on every detail himself, but from what he's been told by several sources, Vancouver did reach out to Edmonton to at least test the waters on bringing Kane back in, presumably at a lower price.

With Adam Foote at the helm, Vancouver has been shopping veteran pieces as it reshapes the lineup. Kane is a pending unrestricted free agent who hasn't found a long-term role in Vancouver and isn't seen as part of the club's future plans.

His value at the moment rests largely on his playoff track record, including a stint with Edmonton, where he was one of the Oilers' leading scorers in postseason points.

The Edmonton Oilers originally shipped Kane to Vancouver in the offseason to free up salary-cap space. Kane waived his no-trade clause to make the move and said at the time that he enjoyed playing in Edmonton and wouldn't rule out returning.

Any Oilers interest again would almost certainly hinge on salary retention or Vancouver taking money back.

One scenario floated was Andrew Mangiapane going to Vancouver to cover Kane's $1.52 million cap hit, but league feedback suggests that wouldn't be enough. Kane's no-move clause also gives him veto power over any deal.

Dhaliwal added that league-wide, interest is significantly stronger in Kiefer Sherwood, a player the Canucks could likely move for a substantial return.

The Oilers would prefer Sherwood over Kane, which only further reinforces the notion that a Kane return to the Oilers remains unlikely.