Evander Kane gets another injury update that will change Oilers entire playoffs
Photo credit: USA Today Sports
The Edmonton Oilers are currently missing a number of their star players with injury, but they may actually be fully healthy for Game 1 of the playoffs - including a return of Evander Kane.
Kane has been skating with the Oilers for weeks now, and yesterday was noticeably looking better than ever before. With 12 games left in the regular season, there's hope he can ramp up and play Game 1.
Oilers insider provides positive update on Evander Kane returning for Game 1 of playoffs
Oilers insider Jim Matheson reported today in the Edmonton Journal that Kane is aiming for a return in Game 1, and has begun taking full contact in practice as well.
Evander Kane (abdominal and knee surgery), who hopes to be ready when playoffs start in less than a month, was a participant in the full Oilers practice Monday with the team off Tuesday. Kane, who would be jumping onto a moving Oilers train with no league games this season, did absorb a hard hit from Vasily Podkolzin with no ill effects.
- Jim Matheson
- Jim Matheson
It's extremely significant to see Kane absorbing contact in practice, as it's a major step for players to make a return to play. Kane endured multiple abdominal surgeries and a knee surgery, so taking hits in practice is a sign he's fully healed.
Bringing Kane back into the fold will still be a tricky experiment for the Oilers, but him l returning in Game 1 makes the most sense if he's cleared to play.
The concern will be getting Kane up to full speed to endure a playoff game, but if they continue to hold him out until midway through the first round, bringing him back could be even more risky. Introducing him early in a series, preferably the first round, would be the best way to ease him back in.
Evander Kane has been one of the league's top power forwards through his 930 game NHL career. Even playing through injury last for most of last season, Kane scored 24 goals and led the team in hits. Just a few weeks ago Stan Howmba seemed pessimistic
Getting Kane's physicality and scoring talent back for the playoffs will be a major asset to the Oilers playoff run. If he can return as early as Game 1, he'll get back up to game speed even sooner.
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MARS 25 | 520 ANSWERS Evander Kane gets another injury update that will change Oilers entire playoffs Do you think Evander Kane will be back for Game 1 of playoffs? | ||
| Yes | 428 | 82.3 % |
| No | 92 | 17.7 % |
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