Salary Cap Experts Allege Oilers Made Costly LTIR Mistake with Evander Kane
Salary cap experts at PuckPedia have detailed the Edmonton Oilers' complicated situation with Evander Kane's return from injury, but it appears some oversight from management may cost them some money.
The Oilers have tried to accrue salary cap space through the season by keeping a thin roster, to give themselves more money to spend at the trade deadline.
According to PuckPedia, because the Oilers placed Evander Kane on LTIR to start the season, they will not be able to spend both accrued cap space and their LTIR pool - they'll only have the option of one or the other.
If the Oilers were able to keep Kane on the active roster instead of LTIR at the beginning of the year, Edmonton could've spent both accrued cap space and their LTIR pool, for a total just above $6M.
Instead, they can only spend $5.1M if Evander Kane doesn't return this season, and only $1.04M if he doesn't return.
Edmonton Oilers may have $1M less in salary cap space due to Kane mistake
The most disappointing factor of this is that it was an unforced error. The Oilers could've kept Kane on the active roster for the opening night if Travis Dermott or Troy Stecher were sent to the minors instead.
Oilers fans are quite upset at this mistake that could cost them up to $1M in salary cap space.
They better spend all of his 5M at the deadline. Load up and if they don't they should all be fired.»
When speaking with the media today, Evander Kane revealed details of a new knee surgery he just underwent, but stressed multiple times that he intends to play this season.
The Oilers surely miss Kane in their lineup, with his 24 goals and leading the team in hits - but spending his $5.125M at the trade deadline on an impact defenceman may be the best route for the team.
More news on Kane's injury will become more clear around the trade deadline, but for now, it appears the Oilers made a costly mistake with Kane's LTIR management.
