The Edmonton Oilers finally snapped their losing streak on Saturday (Mar. 1) with a win over the Carolina Hurricanes, and it seems as though they can finally shift their focus back toward being buyers at the 2025 Trade Deadline. One player who may find himself on the outside looking in is forward Evander Kane, who hasn’t played a single game in the 2024-25 season as he recovers from several injuries he has had multiple surgeries for.
Last season, he scored 24 goals and added 20 assists for 44 points through 77 games with the Oilers and has proven to be a solid offensive addition to their team since he joined them midway through the 2021-22 season.
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Kane, who is 33 years old, was drafted 4th overall by the Atlanta Thrashers in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. Throughout his NHL career, he has scored 326 goals and added 291 assists for 617 points through 930 games which comes out to a 0.66 points-per-game average. He has a $5.125 million cap hit and is under contract through the 2025-26 season. In a recent podcast, as well as on the recent Saturday Headlines segment, insider Elliotte Friedman revealed that the Oilers were gauging the market for Kane to see if there was a way they could get some cap space to spend at the upcoming deadline.
Kane’s no-movement clause changed to a no-trade clause on March 1st, and he gave the Oilers a list of 16 teams he would accept a trade to. While it’s not unusual for teams to ask for that list when clauses change in a contract, it seems as though the reason he was asked for his list was so that management could see if there was any interest in him from contenders at the trade deadline.
The Oilers need to upgrade some parts of their lineup if they want to make another deep playoff run, and if Kane plays before the postseason to get back up to NHL speed, they won’t be able to spend that extra $5.125 million that they would get in cap relief if he’s on long-term injured reserve, since he would count against their cap during the regular season. He is still a solid power forward who could be a welcomed addition to a contending team, but with the Oilers having success without him in their lineup this season, it seems as though his time in Edmonton is coming to an end.
What Teams Could Have Interest in Kane?
When considering contenders that could have interest in Kane, the first three that come to mind are the Toronto Maple Leafs, Washington Capitals, and New York Rangers. The Maple Leafs may choose to part with a mid-round pick and a prospect like Fraser Minten to bring in Kane, and that’s something the Oilers should consider to bolster their prospect pool. The Capitals could be open to moving multiple draft picks to bring him in to bolster their forward depth, but they would likely want the Oilers to take back a bad contract in return.
The Rangers seem like the most likely destination and seem like a great fit. They need forward depth and as they look to push for a playoff spot, Kane brings a physical playing style that fans in New York would love if they can squeeze into the postseason. They also have the cap space to take on his full contract, which may be enticing for the Oilers since they wouldn’t have to retain any salary.
Either way, it seems as though the Oilers and Kane are nearing the end of their partnership. If a team is interested and the Oilers can free up cap space with a trade before the 2025 Trade Deadline, they won’t hesitate to make something work. Time will tell if a team ends up taking a chance on him, considering his injury troubles, but it’s something the Oilers seem to be working hard to complete so they can spend that money on other areas they need to improve.
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