Oilers shockingly trying to trade star forward off the team per insider
This year, the Edmonton Oilers are going all in for the Stanley Cup, and their trade deadline is going to have to reflect that - even if they make some cutthroat moves. Last year they traded team favourite Tyson Barrie for Mattias Ekholm. Now, several Oilers insiders are claiming the team has looked at trading Evander Kane this year.
In a recent interview with the Spittin' Chiclets Podcast, Ryan Whitney brought up Kane's declining play and reports that there's a feud in the locker room, and insider Elliotte Friedman confirmed that the Oilers have explored trading him, but couldn't find a way to make the team better by doing so.
WHITNEY:There's something going on with Kane there. He doesn't like his ice time, and if there's any sort of time to get out somebody who is possibly bringing down moods
FRIEDMAN: I have to say that I don't necessarily disagree with you. I understand that maybe, at times, they might have considered doing something there. Again, he's got to be playing great, they need him to be playing great, but tell me how they're a better team without Kane.
FRIEDMAN: I have to say that I don't necessarily disagree with you. I understand that maybe, at times, they might have considered doing something there. Again, he's got to be playing great, they need him to be playing great, but tell me how they're a better team without Kane.
It's a shocking development to hear that the Oilers have even considered moving on from Kane this year, someone who was brought in just a few years ago to be a core piece on the team as an essential power forward. However with his play clearly being dragged down by nagging injuries, and him reportedly not responding well to the team's criticism, it may be the best move for the Oilers to trade Kane.
At the same time, Elliotte has a point that the team is simply not better without what Kane can bring, especially in the playoffs. Hopefully he can dial up his game and bring it when it's most important, because right now, he's not worth his $5.1M contract for the next three years - and it's making him expendable along with the troubling locker room reports.
| POLL | ||
Should the Oilers trade Evander Kane? | ||
| Yes, not worth contract and distractions | 259 | 38.8 % |
| No, good player, makes the team better | 337 | 50.4 % |
| See Results | 72 | 10.8 % |
| List of polls | ||
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