Oilers have a prime opportunity to use salary cap loophole

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Ryan Hall
July 3, 2024 (8:55 PM)

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The Edmonton Oilers are over the salary cap and may have to move Evander Kane's contract, but they could use the loophole with LTIR.

This course of action seems to be the latest idea as Oilers President and Interim general manager Jeff Jackson stated to the media that Kane is going through a major hip issue which requires numerous consultations with doctors and other caregivers along with second opinions to figure out his best course forward.

The injury that he sustained certainly has impeded Kane's ability to play hockey. Over the back half of the season and into the playoffs, his playing time diminished and he looked like a shell of the power forward that he is, even missing several games of the Stanley Cup Finals.

Moving Kane to LTIR gives the Oilers several options that could benefit the team and Kane's health. He would have a chance to fully recover from his injuries and take the time that's needed to become the player they hoped he would be.

Moving him also gives the Oilers more flexibility in the cap, as his $5.125 million contract would sit and give them another option to add a player especially later in the season closer to the trade deadline.

This would certainly mirror what the Vegas Golden Knights and the Tampa Bay Lightning have done for years having players like Mark Stone and Nikita Kucherov have sat for months and then reappear in the playoffs. It would be a boost for the Oilers as they would have a healthy Evander Kane and not hurt the cap and use a trick that all teams have.

The other avenue would be possibly trading Kane in March 1st 2025 as his contract will switch from a full no movement clause to a modified no trade of 16 teams period. The Oilers can use Kane to acquire another forward along with potential draft pick as the team only has three draft picks in 2025.

The organization has plenty of options, but the most important one is to get him healthy and have him be ready to either play for the team or move on to another.