Canucks: Who is the real Evander Kane? His former WHL head coach knows

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Two early career developments framed NHL promise and problems for Evander Kane.

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He is now a key offensive component for the Vancouver Canucks, and in a much better personal place. But the long road the imposing left winger travelled to get back home was full of potholes that often drove him into the ditch.

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It didn’t start that way.

At age 15, Kane was inserted into the Vancouver Giants’ juggernaut lineup at the 2007 Memorial Cup in the Pacific Coliseum. Head coach Don Hay reasoned the blossoming dynamo was simply too effective to be a spectator on a club that would claim its first title.

“I took out an older player to play Evander because I just really liked his game,” Hay told Postmedia on Wednesday. “He was really competitive and we needed that. And then he played really well as a 16-year-old, scored 24 goals, and would go head-to-head with top defencemen like Tyler Myers of Kelowna.

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“They had some great battles. He just finds a way to get to the net and doesn’t make it comfortable for the other team.”

In his second WHL season, Kane exploded for 96 points (48-48) in 61 games, and his stubbornness was an attribute. It drove him to 617 NHL points (326-291) in 930 games with five teams, twice hitting the 30-goal mark.

“As a coach, you have to be stubborn, and he was coachable. But I was firm and direct with him and he responded to that,” recalled Hay. “He was suited for me and I was suited for him at that stage of his career. He believes in himself and what he brings. That’s the biggest thing. He might rub some people the wrong way, but I really admire his competitiveness.”

Kane became the fourth-overall selection in the 2009 NHL Draft by the Atlanta Thrashers. The hype was huge and so was the pressure. He responded with a credible 14 rookie goals in 66 games.

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But the East Vancouver native not only found himself in a big city and on a bad team, he lived by himself. He didn’t have a billet family — which is really beyond belief — or that key roster veteran to lean on for instruction and direction. That’s a recipe for distractions … and there were plenty.

“He made some bad decisions at that time. The stubbornness took over, and he would just do whatever he wanted,” said Hay. “Social media was just out at that time and all the other nonsense that goes on. He did bizarre and stupid things, but did it when he was younger. And it’s hard to shake that reputation.

“I really like Evander and have a lot of time for him. He’s got a family and is settled in more and did a lot in the community in Edmonton.”

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In an intriguing way, Hay and Kane remain aligned.

The legendary Hay, 71, came out of WHL coaching retirement after compiling a record 750 regular-season victories and four Memorial Cup titles. He will be an associate coach with Kelowna Rockets bench boss Derek Martin to guide that team, who are the 2026 Memorial Cup host.

Kane, who turns 34 on Aug. 2, wants to keep playing and is in a contract year, which usually brings out the best in the 6-foot-2, 218-pound winger. He’s a salary cap fit at an expiring $5.125 million, and surrendering a fourth-round 2025 pick to the Oilers was palatable.

So, what are the Canucks getting?

“A real competitive player who loves to score goals,” stressed Hay. “I don’t think he has changed from when he was young. He plays a hard and physical game and goes to the real tough areas to compete for the puck. And he’s a shooter. He’s going to really complement their team.”

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Kane missed the entire 2024-25 regular season recovering from surgery and then produced a dozen points (6-6) in 21 playoff games, but also took 44 minutes in penalties.

“I liked the way he played in the playoffs,” added Hay. “It showed those competitive juices are still flowing. And coming home in front of family and friends, and a team he watched growning up, he’s going to be really motivated to help the Canucks have success.

“He’ll be counted on a little more than in Edmonton, and it’s good to have those kind of expectations. He’s explosive from the blueline in and wants the puck. He can score off the rush, but also get those dirty goals and can pull people into the battle.”

Kane can also drive the play and create space with ruggedness, which could mean an alignment with Elias Pettersson and Brock Boeser. That would put Jake DeBrusk with Filip Chytil, if there’s not a credible centre addition, and Conor Garland.

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This isn’t the first time Kane has been tied to Vancouver at the NHL level.

Nine years ago, there was speculation the struggling Canucks might try to pry Kane from the Buffalo Sabres. They were coming off a brutal season and finished 13 points shy of the final wild-card playoff spot. The aging roster was also getting long in the tooth — Henrik and Daniel Sedin along with Alex Burrows, 34, and Chris Higgins, 32 — and the Canucks needed younger players.

They didn’t get Kane then. They have him now.

bkuzma@postmedia.com

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