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Canucks general manager Jim Benning wants to add a proven scorer with grit to take the pressure off Sven Baertschi. With $3.4 million in cap space, there are safer and cheaper routes to travel in free agency, but the Canucks need to take a hard look at travelling the bold road. Trying to win and getting younger at the same time is a conundrum. For everything Kane has done wrong off the ice, he could be the right answer on it. He could help fill those empty Rogers Arena seats, and help propel the Canucks back to the playoffs.

Kane is better than the 20 goals he had in 65 games last season, in 21 minutes of average ice time, because he was shut down with an upper-body injury in March. He has imposing speed and his 6-2, 204-pound frame allows him to drive wide around defenders and unleash a good shot. If he develops a better net presence, and a better two-way game because he was a minus-14, another 30-goal season like the one he had in 2011-12 with Winnipeg should be attainable.

For a team that can’t score — the Canucks were 27th on the power play and 29th in offence last season — and also needs to match up better physically up front, there’s a lot to like about Kane being slotted behind Daniel Sedin and ahead of Baertschi. The Sabres are trying to secure left-winger Jimmy Vesey, 23, whom they acquired from Nashville, but he becomes an unrestricted free agent Aug. 15 when his draft rights expire. Chicago and Boston are considered front-runners among at least six suitors and, if Vesey stays with Buffalo, moving Kane becomes much easier. Even if they don’t land Vesey, the Kane drain has irked Sabres ownership and the fans.