Evander Kane’s aggressive playstyle and scoring prowess make him a pivotal player for the Oilers. But, is he healthy enough to be effective?
As the Edmonton Oilers grapple with their salary cap situation, Evander Kane is the ultimate wild card on the roster. Potentially a candidate for Long-Term Injured Reserve (LTIR), if his hip and sports hernia injuries are serious, he's also the kind of player, who when healthy, is a difference-maker.
Kane, who carries a $5.125-million cap hit, has a history of injuries that might make him less than reliable. While Kane’s aggressive play and scoring ability are valuable, his public acknowledgement of nagging issues is a concern, as is his sizable cap hit which could be better utilized to address other team needs.
When he's on his game, Kane's impact on the Oilers is undeniable. Last season, he scored 24 goals and 44 points in 77 games, and added four goals and eight points in 20 playoff games, despite being less than 100 percent. During the 2021-22 season, he scored 22 goals in 43 games and led the team in playoff scoring with 13 goals and 17 points in 15 games. Kane’s aggressive style creates opportunities for the Oilers' speed and skill game, making him a crucial player in the top six.
However, if he’s not playing at full capacity, it raises questions about the effectiveness of allocating that much salary to the lower part of the forward corps. Kane doesn't see himself as a bottom-six forward and the Oilers have other holes to fill. His cap space could address those needs.
Are the Oilers and Kane On the Same Page?
What makes him such a wild card is that it's hard to read from day to day and interview to interview where Kane stands health wise. CEO Jeff Jackson mentioned an “issue with his hip,” and the nature of his injury and recovery path remains unclear. Meanwhile, Kane called it a "sports hernia" that was bugging him most of last season. Is it a hip? Is it a hernia? Is it a bit of both? Do either keep him out to the point he's unreliable?
As training camp approaches, this misalignment needs an early resolution.
The good news is that Kane has proven to be resilient. His career with the Oilers began when he signed a one-year, $2.11-million contract after being released by the San Jose Sharks due to questions of ethical off-ice decision-making. The Oilers took a gamble on him, and Kane delivered by scoring 22 goals in roughly half a season, then leading the team in playoff scoring.
This success led to a four-year, $20.5-million contract extension in July 2022.
When he's determined, he's dangerous and Kane’s tenure with the Oilers has proven that past experiences don’t necessarily dictate future outcomes. He may have been less effective than he wanted to be during the 2023-24 playoffs, but he's still a critical part of the team and the Oilers know the dynamic he brings is unlike anything else others on the roster can offer.
As the Oilers prepare for the new season, resolving Kane’s situation is crucial. Whether through LTIR or finding out if he's good to go, ensuring that the team’s roster and cap space are optimized will be vital if they want to win the Stanley Cup that they were extremely close to capturing last season.