Kane return to Oilers looking later than sooner as NHL trade deadline looms: TSN analyst

Edmonton Oilers winger Evander Kane celebrates a goal against the Anaheim Ducks during an NHL game in Anaheim, Calif., on Feb. 9, 2024. (Alex Gallardo/AP)

Evander Kane has been working to get back on the ice for the Edmonton Oilers, but it appears as though he may not be close to a return to action, says TSN’s Ryan Rishaug, with the National Hockey League trade deadline a day away.

That could mean the Oilers can spend some of the salary cap hit that having the power forward on long-term injured reserve allows.

The 33-year-old has yet to play this season after having two surgeries to address injuries suffered last season and hampered him in last year’s playoffs.

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“My understanding is Kane hasn’t put back to back days of intense workouts together, and as the deadline draws near it’s perhaps becoming more apparent that a return at playoff time is more likely,” Rishaug said Thursday on social media. “With that said they’ll be careful here, but my sense is we could see them with more space to work with than previously thought.”

The Oilers have used some of the $5.125 million available by having Kane on LTIR but still have $3.7 million of it at their disposal. The team can’t use that cap space, however, unless he will be out of the lineup until the playoffs.

Edmonton added 27-year-old forwards Trent Frederic and Max Jones – each 6-foot-3 and in the 220-pound range – via trade with the Boston Bruins and New Jersey Devils earlier this week, ostensibly to add size and grit up front in the absence of Kane, who had been providing that for the Oilers the last three seasons along with offensive production. Kane scored 24 goals and 20 assists in 77 games in 2023-24.

Jones suiting up vs. Habs

While Frederic is unavailable as he’s week-to-week with an ankle injury he suffered in the Bruins' game last week against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Jones is healthy and will draw into the Oilers' lineup Thursday night (7 p.m.) against the visiting Montreal Canadiens.

Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch said Jones will join the fourth line alongside Corey Perry and Kasperi Kapanen.

“I think he’s a player that gives us something we don’t have: a little more speed, a little more physicality,” Knoblauch said after the morning skate. “A really simple game, but a guy who gets in on the forecheck, makes it a little more uncomfortable for the opposition (defence.)”

Defenceman Cam Dineen will also make his Oilers debut Thursday after being called up on an emergency basis from Edmonton’s minor-league affiliate in Bakersfield, Calif.

Both Mattias Ekholm and John Klingberg will sit out blueline duty, with Ekholm taking “some time off, and whether or not that’s one or two games, definitely tonight,” Knoblauch said. Klingberg is nursing a minor injury.

Projected lineup

Forward

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins • Connor McDavid • Zach Hyman

Vasily Podkolzin • Leon Draisaitl • Viktor Arvidsson

Mattias Janmark • Adam Henrique • Connor Brown

Max Jones • Kasperi Kapanen • Corey Perry

Defence

Darnell Nurse • Evan Bouchard

Brett Kulak • Ty Emberson

Cam Dineen • Troy Stecher

Goal

Stuart Skinner • Calvin Pickard