Insider believes NHL investigated Oilers for Evander Kane injury situation before playoffs
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Evander Kane will not be returning to the Oilers lineup for Game 1 of the playoffs, and insider Elliotte Friedman believes the NHL is beginning to enforce adjusted rules around players returning from LTIR.
Oilers GM Stan Bowman had said earlier this season that the plan for Kane was always to return sometime in the playoffs- but the NHL doesn't like the look of a Game 1 return anymore.
Insider Elliotte Friedman believes NHL enforced unofficial rule change on Oilers
On today's edition of the 32 Thoughts Podcast, Friedman said that although he doesn't have any confirmation, he believes the NHL enforced teams to either have players returning in Game 82 - or wait until further in the playoffs beyond Game 1.
I think the NHL has been working hard and on some of these teams about injuries. Dougie Hamilton came back in game 82. Tyler Seguin came back in game 82. I can't prove it, but I find it very interesting because in the past, some of these guys might have waited until Game 1.
The fact that those guys played Game 82 and Evander Kane is not playing game one for Edmonton, I don't know that I believe in coincidences. I think these are some situations where the league was like, we want to see your medical reports.
- Elliotte Friedman
The fact that those guys played Game 82 and Evander Kane is not playing game one for Edmonton, I don't know that I believe in coincidences. I think these are some situations where the league was like, we want to see your medical reports.
- Elliotte Friedman
For the Edmonton Oilers, it would've been impossible for the salary cap to put Evander Kane back into the lineup. If Friedman's brief is correct, Kane won't be able to return until Game 2, 3, or later.
This also may be the beginning of the NHL enforcing new rules around the LTIR usage.
The Vegas Golden Knights were able to ice a playoff roster well over the salary cap for multiple years, with Mark Stone returning from LTIR in game 1 each time.
Hopefully when Kane is able to return to the lineup, he can bring his best possible game and find a way to contribute to an Oilers series win.
| POLL | ||
AVRIL 21 | 1006 ANSWERS Insider believes NHL investigated Oilers for Evander Kane injury situation before playoffs Do you think the NHL finally enforced an LTIR rule on the Oilers? | ||
| Yes | 849 | 84.4 % |
| No | 157 | 15.6 % |
| List of polls | ||
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