Oilers coach refuses to comment on sensitive situation around Evander Kane

Previously, reports surfaced that Evander Kane may be declining a conditioning stint in the AHL. Doing so is his right, but doesn't reflect well upon him in the organization.

With just over a week left in the season, the time to assign Kane for a 3 game conditioning assignment would be now. When asked about the possibility for the move, Coach Knoblauch refused to comment.

Kane has been skating at Oilers practice for over a month now, getting up to speed as much as he can in practice type situations.

Usually, players coming off significant injuries would go play a few games in the AHL to warm up before playoffs. Especially if Kane wants to return in Game 1, the conditioning games would be critical.

Some fans have raised the fact that Kane and his partner have just welcomed a daughter who spent time in NICU, but Kane still was on the road trip with the Oilers in California last week.

The Condors do play 2 games at home on April 16 and 18, finishing one day before the Oilers regular season ends. That may be the ideal slate of games for Kane to play, but again, Knoblauch's refusal to comment and previous reports suggest something else is going on.

If Kane declines to take a conditioning stint, it will be a strange and selfish decision that will only set him back in a potential recovery and reaching his best results in the playoffs as soon as possible.