Evander Kane, who returned for the Oilers in the playoffs after missing the entire regular season after multiple surgeries, was traded to his hometown Canucks on Wednesday, clearing cap space before free agency.

That latter aspect of Kane’s game is something Vancouver felt it sorely lacked last season. This was a roster that just wasn’t nearly big enough or heavy enough in the organization’s estimation, especially following the J.T. Miller trade. It was a skill set the club was willing to roll the dice on.