Evander Kane enters Oilers’ trade plans in tricky situation
It needs to be figured out ahead of the March 7 deadline, no doubt. Full story below:
As trade rumours surrounding Edmonton Oilers forward Jeff Skinner are being questioned, it led to fans wondering when Evander Kane will be returning to action.
They might not appreciate the latest update as an answer…
Oilers insider Daniel Nugent-Bowman recently spoke about the trade situation surrounding Skinner, saying that his fate in Edmonton could be decided by what happens next with a key injury before March 7. While Skinner has 10 goals and 20 points in 49 games this season and was a healthy scratch for a stretch of games last month, he is not being shopped by GM Stan Bowman at this time Nugent-Bowman believes that’s because the Oilers are being careful with Evander Kane’s situation.
Kane has yet to play this season after undergoing abdominal surgery back in September. In early January, it was announced that he was going back under the knife for a knee procedure that would keep him out for four to eight weeks.
When GM Bowman explained how he could look at adding more depth on the trade market, he mentioned how he could also get a boost from Kane’s return, though he mentioned how he remains without a firm timeline for his return to action. An update will come closer to the March 7 deadline and will impact how the Oilers will proceed.
“Nobody knows. Evander as well. It’s not a known fact when he’s going to be ready to play,” Bowman told Nugent-Bowman. “As a result, a non-update update.
“As you get closer to the deadline - when you get to a month from now - he’ll have continued with his training. We’ll see how he’s feeling, and then we’ll know how much of the season is left. There are too many factors right now to be able to nail it.”
Last season, Kane posted 24 goals and 44 points in 77 games last season, adding four goals and eight points in 20 games during Edmonton’s run to the Stanley Cup Final.
He would be a significant boost to the Oilers’ offense, though the uncertain timeline sure places GM Bowman in a tough spot.
As of now in the 4 Nations break, Edminton sit atop the Pacific Division, tied at 72 points with the Vegas Golden Knights with one game in hand. The Oilers are nine points back of the Winnipeg Jets for the top spot in the entire Western Conference.
