Evander Kane May Not Play For the Edmonton Oilers When He Returns From Injury

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Liam McCormick
November 28, 2024 (9:51)

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Edmonton Oilers forward is currently rehabbing from a list of injuries sustained last season, but when he does return to play this season, the Oilers may look to trade him to another team.

Examining the Oilers potential trade assets this season, reporter Preston Hodgkinson named Evander Kane as a player that could be on the move.

When Kane is able to return to the lineup, keeping him in the lineup may not make much sense. The Oilers don't have much ice time for him, and could better spend his $5.125M salary.

When every player is healthy, there's no clear spot where Kane would slide into the lineup.

RNH - McDavid - Hyman
Podkolzin - Draisaitl - Arvidsson
Janmark - Henrique - Brown
Skinner - Ryan - Perry
Kapanen

Jeff Skinner is already having his talent wasted on the fourth line and playing depth minutes. Vasili Podkolzin is playing great, although not scoring much, for $4M less than Kane's salary. Last season, Evander Kane was mostly getting third line minutes - this season it looks like he would be a 4th liner.

Then, there's the issue of expectations of a 33 year old player entering the lineup for the first time towards the end point of the season. The reality is, most older players do not perform well immediately after returning from a lengthy injury.

The Oilers are strapped for salary cap space while looking to make an impactful addition to their defence via trade, and they could free up all of the necessary space if they can offload Kane.

Hodgkinson did raise a valid concern about trading Kane: his age, salary, and injury history may make him difficult to move.

It's tough to say what Kane's value is on the trade market right now, and the recent injuries combined with the high cap hit may make it a difficult sell for some teams.
- Preston Hodgkinson

Evander Kane currently has a full no-movement clause, but on February 28, 2025, his trade protection changes to a 16 team no-trade list.

This year's trade deadline is March 7, 2025, so the Oilers will have time to trade him if they wish.

In September of this year, Evander Kane and the Oilers revealed that he underwent corrective surgery for six different muscle tears that he had played through for much of the year. The looking to make an impactful addition to their defence via trade.

It'd be difficult to move off of Kane after he's given so much to the team in the last few seasons, but between his injury and salary, the Oilers should see what's best for their chances to win. Kane is a great player that scored 24 goals last year playing through these significant injuries, but his time with the Oilers may be at an end.