Edmonton Oilers announce bad news regarding forward Evander Kane

Kane played much of last season with a sports hernia, which he mentioned to reporters in April. This injury affected his performance during the Oilers' playoff run to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final, causing him to miss five of Edmonton's 25 playoff games. It's unclear if the upcoming surgery is related to this hernia.

The recovery is likely to sideline Kane for at least the first 10 games and 24 days of the 2024-25 season, allowing the Oilers to place him on long-term injured reserve. This move would give the team some temporary relief from his $5.125 million cap hit, providing new general manager Stan Bowman with some much-needed financial flexibility. Currently, Edmonton's roster is projected to be over the $88 million salary cap by more than $350,000, according to PuckPedia. The Oilers also still need to finalize deals with restricted free agents Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway.

After a disappointing 2023-24 season, Kane, who is 33 years old, may have been a trade candidate for Edmonton to clear cap space. However, his full no-movement clause, which is in place until July 1, 2025, gives him the power to block any trade or waiver placement, and the additional year remaining on his contract makes a trade more difficult.

Credit: prohockeyrumours
Evander Kane Likely To Undergo Surgery, Start Season On LTIR