NHL delivers final verdict on investigation into Oilers and Evander Kane LTIR usage
Photo credit: USA Today Sports
NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly has officially confirmed that the Edmonton Oilers will face no penalties for their LTIR usage with Evander Kane last season.
Kane missed the entire 82-game regular season last year, and was able to return for the 2nd game of the playoffs. The situation aligned with controversies around cap-circumvention with LTIR, but Kane did suffer a legitimate injury.
NHL announces Oilers will not face penalties for Kane LTIR use
Near the beginning of last year's playoffs, insiders revealed the NHL was investigating Kane's situation with LTIR. In a new interview with the Athletic, Bill Daly explained that was a routine investigation, and they found no issues in Edmonton.
«I would say we've closed the book on last season. And obviously we've done this every year, right? We look into the situations of players who are going to finish the season on LTIR and who might become available early in the playoffs.
Evander was one of many individuals we looked at last year, and it was a close one, right? It was a close one as to whether he was capable of playing at the end of the season and didn't. And we were concerned that if that were the circumstance, in case it may be a circumvention of the salary cap, and we made the Oilers aware of that.
I think Evander did not play the first game of the playoffs, but he played the second game of the playoffs. So, in any event, it's a closed matter. No repercussions.»
- Bill Daly
lEvander was one of many individuals we looked at last year, and it was a close one, right? It was a close one as to whether he was capable of playing at the end of the season and didn't. And we were concerned that if that were the circumstance, in case it may be a circumvention of the salary cap, and we made the Oilers aware of that.
I think Evander did not play the first game of the playoffs, but he played the second game of the playoffs. So, in any event, it's a closed matter. No repercussions.»
- Bill Daly
Kane was unavailable after recovering from multiple surgeries for multiple injuries, and the Oilers did use his $5.125M in salary cap space to add Jake Walman and Trent Frederic.
When Kane returned, he immediately got back to form as a solid bottom-six power forward, scoring 6 goals and 12 points in 21 games.
In any case, the NHL has now taken action to end the controversies around LTIR. Next season teams will need to ice cap-compliant rosters in the playoffs, which will end banking players on LTIR.
| POLL | ||
SEPTEMBRE 9 | 304 ANSWERS NHL delivers final verdict on investigation into Oilers and Evander Kane LTIR usage Do you think the Oilers circumvented the cap last year? | ||
| Yes | 103 | 33.9 % |
| No | 201 | 66.1 % |
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