Concerns surface for Evander Kane ahead of postseason in Edmonton

Edmonton Oilers forward Evander Kane hasn’t played a game since June 10th of last year, but believes he’s really close to making a return from his recovery from knee surgery and since his abdominal surgery in September.

“If you ask me if I’m ready for Game 1, I think I could barley skate (when) I played in the playoffs last year,” Kane told reporters on Monday. “So, if you’re comparing how I felt now compared to last year, I’m ready to go.”

While his pending return is exciting in Edmonton due to the infirmary getting crowded, Avry Lewis-McDougall of the Hockey News wonders how Kane will look once he is inserted back into the Oilers’ lineup. Especially since Kane himself mentioned how he does not want to rush into things to end back on the sideline.

“One of the things I want to make sure of is that I don’t end up back on an operating table again,” Kane added. “That’s why I wanted to go through that in the summer … to go through this rehab year with. And I’m really happy with how everything’s gone with my recovery and I’m feeling really good on the ice.”

I can understand all of the precautions, but like Lewis-McDougall, I wonder what his impact will be in the Oilers’ lineup during an intense series against the Los Angeles Kings in the first round.

“It’s uncertain whether he’ll be like the player who recorded eight points in 20 playoff games last year or the one who had 13 goals and 17 points in 15 post-season games in 2021-22,” claims Lewis-McDougall, raising concerns on Kane’s return to action at this crucial time in Edmonton.

Edmonton has left open the possibility of Kane making his return in Game 1 of the postseason. We will see if he is the lineup for the first game against Los Angeles, and more specifically, what type of impact he will have for the Oilers.