Oilers, Evander Kane agree to deal for remainder of season

Oilers, Evander Kane agree to deal for remainder of season
By Corey Masisak
Jan 27, 2022

The Edmonton Oilers and Evander Kane have agreed to a deal, Kane's agent Dan Milstein confirmed on Twitter. Kane will join the Oilers for the remainder of the 2021-22 season and will wear No. 91, Milstein tweeted.

A contract was dependent on Kane not being suspended by the league following the NHL’s investigation into his alleged COVID-19 protocol violation, a source confirmed to The Athletic. On Thursday, the NHL confirmed Kane would not be suspended.

Kane cleared unconditional waivers on Jan. 9, one day after the San Jose Sharks placed him on waivers with the intent to terminate his contract. The decision came as a result of Kane breaching his NHL standard player contract and violating the AHL's COVID-19 protocols, the Sharks said.

“He’s a big, strong power forward that’s hard to play against," Oilers defenseman Duncan Keith said earlier in January. “Any time you add a player like that, a good player, you’d be excited by that if that’s going to happen. We’d be happy to have him and excited to have him join the group and help us out.”

The NHLPA filed a grievance against the Sharks after his contract was terminated. "The Sharks do not have sufficient grounds for taking this action," Kane's agent Dan Milstein tweeted.

The NHL recently launched an investigation into reports Kane traveled to Vancouver on Dec. 29 while in COVID-19 protocol. Kane’s termination notice from the Sharks alleged he did not have the proper medical clearance to cross the border, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman tweeted. The San Jose Barracuda placed Kane in protocols on Dec. 22. Kane reportedly tested positive for COVID-19 on Dec. 21.

In a release Thursday, the NHL said it had "concluded that there was insufficient evidence to 'conclusively find that Mr. Kane knowingly made misrepresentations regarding his COVID-19 status or test results in connection with his international travel.'"

The league said it "determined not to pursue any additional League-imposed discipline against Kane at the current time."

Kane, 30, was assigned to the Barracuda, the Sharks' AHL affiliate, in November after clearing waivers. Prior to that, he was suspended for 21 games in October for violating the NHL and NHLPA's COVID-19 protocols. He didn't attend San Jose's training camp while the league investigated him for possibly attempting to falsify his COVID-19 vaccination status and for an allegation by his estranged wife, Anna Kane, of domestic abuse in a divorce filing.

Kane was previously cleared in the league's investigation into allegations that he gambled on NHL games.

Last season, Kane had 22 goals and 49 points in 56 games with the Sharks. The Oilers are out of a playoff spot at 20-16-2 and have gone 3-5-2 in their last 10 games. Leon Draisaitl leads Edmonton this season with 59 points.

“If he’s a part of our team it’s going to be exciting to have a player like that I would say,” Oilers forward Zach Hyman said. “He’ll be a part of our team if he’s a part of our team.”

(Photo: Matt Cohen / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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Why the Oilers are taking a chance on Evander Kane, what they should expect from him and what comes next

Will there be any backlash to this move?

Daniel Nugent-Bowman, Oilers staff writer: There will be some backlash. In addition to his 21-game suspension and his off-ice issues, he's worn out his welcome with teammates in Winnipeg and San Jose. That's a lot of baggage. The thing is Kane was arguably the Sharks' best player last season and he's one of the NHL's best power forwards when he's on his game.

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Where would he fit in Edmonton's lineup?

Nugent-Bowman: The logical place for Kane would be on Connor McDavid's left wing. Kane could provide some muscle next to Edmonton's captain and finish off some scoring chances created greatest by the league's top offensive talent. Kane could also play next to Leon Draisaitl, or Ryan Nugent-Hopkins when coach Dave Tippett wants to use Draisaitl and McDavid on the same line. There are lots of options for Kane in the Oilers' top six.

Is this enough to turn Oilers' fortunes around?

Nugent-Bowman: Provided he plays close to his level from last season, Kane should be a huge help on the ice. The Oilers lack many scoring options at five-on-five behind McDavid and Draisaitl. Kane should change that. But the Oilers will likely need more than just the addition of Kane to become a Stanley Cup contender. Another top-nine forward would be nice. (That could be top prospect Dylan Holloway.) So would another defenseman. As everyone knows, they desperately need a new starting goaltender more than anything else.

Kane’s agent, Dan Milstein, confirmed Kane has agreed to a one-year contract with the Oilers on Twitter.

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