Vancouver Canucks organization releases cousin of three-time Stanley Cup champion Patrick Kane

Injury issues have wreaked havoc for the Vancouver Canucks and their two minor league affiliates this season, the AHL's Abbotsford Canucks and ECHL's Kalamazoo Wings to the point that all three have needed to find external help to fill holes on their respective rosters.

For the Kalamazoo Wings, who sit at the bottom of the ECHL's Western Conference with a 5-9-2 record through 16 games, they've gone through quite a few players since the start of the 2025-26 campaign and one player that they recently signed, who happens to be related to a current NHL legend, is now left searching for his next landing spot after being released by the club.

A little over a week ago, in an attempt to bring in some much needed forward help for their group, the Kalamazoo Wings signed free agent forward Noah Kane, cousin of current Detroit Red Wings forward Patrick Kane, for the 2025-26 season.

However after just two games with the Kalamazoo Wings, the organization has decided to release Noah Kane from his contract, according to the ECHL's transactions log, and he'll now become eligible for a waiver claim and if he's not picked up, he'll become an unrestricted free agent for the second time this season.

Kane, a native of South Buffalo, New York, spent four seasons in the NCAA, two with Mercyhurst University and two with Long Island University, before making the jump to professional hockey.

Since turning pro at the end of the 2023-24 season, Kane has gone on to suit up for four different ECHL clubs, as well as Finnish club Jokipojat Joensuu, who play in the second division, Mestis, where he 18 points (seven goals, 11 assists) in 28 games.

It's unclear what comes next for the 25-year-old forward, but there's a good chance that he'll find another home, likely elsewhere in the ECHL, very soon.