Analyst predicts Oilers will trade back for an important former player this year
Photo credit: USA Today Sports
According to his social media posting, analyst David Staples believes the Edmonton Oilers will attempt to cut a deal with the Vancouver Canucks to get back Evander Kane.
Now, David Staples doesn't exactly say how and when the Oilers will try to bring back the long-time former-Oiler, but the idea itself is not a bad one, and may actually be a good assumption.
The trade that saw Kane got to Vancouver in June raised some eyebrows, especially when you consider it was for a 4th round draft pick. By all appearances, however, the deal was a salary-dump for the Oilers.
Evander Kane missed last season because of injury.
«After further consultation with team medical staff, it has been determined that forward Evander Kane will not be ready to return to action for the remainder of the 2024-25 regular season,» the Oilers said in a statement. «As a result, he will remain on LTIR (long-term injured reserve).
Kane underwent successful surgery last September to repair two torn hip adductor muscles, two hernias, and two torn abdominal muscles.
Kane would return in time to play 21 playoff games in 2024-25, scoring 6 goals and 6 assists. Given how much time he'd missed, the production from the 34-year old was decent.
Now it would appear the Oilers want him back. In 2023-24, Kane's last full season, he scored 24 goals and 44 assists in 77 games played. Even as a veteran, he can still produce.
His salary is the only real obstacle on an Edmonton team that is faced with cap restrictions. Kane is in year 4 of a 4 year deal, at a cap hit of $5.125M. It's not outrageous for a player who's been able to produce for Edmonton over the years.
But he'll be 35-years old when his contract expires, and may be entering his least-productive years. If they can manage to bring him back at a cap hit of $3.5M, then it could make sense.
There are too many variables at this point to know if it makes sense for Edmonton, though we may find out in a few months that Evander Kane still has what it takes to be an Oiler.
Kane underwent successful surgery last September to repair two torn hip adductor muscles, two hernias, and two torn abdominal muscles.
Kane would return in time to play 21 playoff games in 2024-25, scoring 6 goals and 6 assists. Given how much time he'd missed, the production from the 34-year old was decent.
Now it would appear the Oilers want him back. In 2023-24, Kane's last full season, he scored 24 goals and 44 assists in 77 games played. Even as a veteran, he can still produce.
His salary is the only real obstacle on an Edmonton team that is faced with cap restrictions. Kane is in year 4 of a 4 year deal, at a cap hit of $5.125M. It's not outrageous for a player who's been able to produce for Edmonton over the years.
But he'll be 35-years old when his contract expires, and may be entering his least-productive years. If they can manage to bring him back at a cap hit of $3.5M, then it could make sense.
There are too many variables at this point to know if it makes sense for Edmonton, though we may find out in a few months that Evander Kane still has what it takes to be an Oiler.
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