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Can a polarizing left-winger with a scoring touch and checkered past be part of the Vancouver Canucks’ rebuild?

The answers: Absolutely and absolutely not.

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Mention the possibility of acquiring 25-year-old Evander Kane in a trade with the Buffalo Sabres, who have a new general manager and are still looking to land an established defenceman like Chris Tanev, Jake Muzzin or Alec Martinez from the Los Angeles Kings, and debate in this market understandably rages like a wildfire.

The Sabres and Kings are open to doing business with new men at the GM helm — Jason Botterill and Rob Blake, respectively — but what about the Canucks? They have in the past expressed an interest in Kane and he might be worth another look.

Kane didn’t score in his first dozen games this season, but the Vancouver native finished with 28 goals — 25 came at even strength in his final 59 of 70 games played. He had a rib injury, played through pain and would help spark a 29th-ranked offence and also aid the first-line succession plan, especially with left-winger Daniel Sedin entering the final year of his NHL contract.