Following Tampa and Vegas' Lead?: Pros May Use LTIR on Kane – Hockey Writers – Edmonton Oilers

The Edmonton Oilers face a bit of a challenge as they work to get under the salary cap after spending a lot of money in free agency. With the recent additions of players like Jeff Skinner, Viktor Arvidsson, and Adam Henrique, the Oilers now sit at $2.5 million over their $88 million salary cap. They need to re-sign restricted free agents Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway, adding to their financial woes. While the trade is widely expected to alleviate some of this cap pressure, there is growing speculation that the Oilers may place forward Evander Kane on long-term injury reserve (LTIR) to start the season.

Is Evander Kane An LTIR Candidate?

Oilers CEO Jeff Jackson recently stepped into the role of interim general manager, and his comments about Kane's health have fueled speculation that Kane could be out for an extended period of time. Jackson revealed that Kane is dealing with a hip injury and a sports hernia, and the team is currently evaluating his condition.

“He was dealing with a problem with his hip. We are doing a process to see what we need to do in that regard, so that he can get the best care and advice from our doctors. We're going to talk to his agent, get in touch with Evander and his agent Dan Milstein, to make sure we get second opinions and things like that. That's where it is, and nothing is planned, so far beyond that. “

At the very least, Jackson's explanation leaves the door open to this being a long-term injury and a lengthy recovery process.

Can the Oilers Go Four Seasons?

Speculation has begun to heat up after that interview that placing him on LTIR is the first and most likely option for the Oilers. That would free up $5.25 million in cap space and provide significant financial relief, allowing the Oilers to make another move this summer. Granted, if Kane is going to be healthy during the season, Edmonton will have to find a way to keep up with the cap, but the NHL has proven time and time again that this is a huge gray area for the league.

Kane, who has two years left on his contract and has a no-movement clause, may not be happy about this possibility but there are advantages for the Oilers to go this way to start the season. Taking a year to fully heal from his injury would be beneficial for both Kane and the Oilers. Historically, players with similar injuries, like Nick Ehlers and Nikita Kucherov, have missed a lot of time but come back strong. Meanwhile, Mark Stone has suffered from several mysterious illnesses that have seen him return during the postseason to help the Vegas Golden Knights. In fact, the Golden Knights left a gap in front of everyone and wished the league would do something about it.

Related: NHL Rumors: Blue Jackets, Maple Leafs, Oilers, Canadiens

Kane overcoming his hernia and hip issues during the regular season and rejoining the team in the playoffs is an exciting prospect for the Oilers.

Can Kane and the Oilers Really Do This?

If Kane were to spend the season on LTIR, that would give him a chance to focus on his recovery and other interests. Meanwhile, the Oilers have the deepest forward group since the Wayne Gretzky years and can afford Kane to miss games. A healthy Kane's return in the playoffs could be a game-changer.

When healthy, Kane is a valuable asset, known for creating scoring opportunities and providing physicality, especially in the playoffs. His presence could be a key factor in a deep playoff run. A healthy Kane would be useful in the regular season as well, but for the Oilers, it's all about scoring. Many believe that they will do so without much trouble.

The only potential risk with Edmonton is the NHL's stance on using LTIR for relief is for the league to reveal that they are investigating the situation. While the process remains unclear, there's always the risk that the NHL may decide it's time to wake up and actually change the rule. That could just be the Oilers' luck.

The final hurdle will be getting Kane on board. He has been very vocal about his unhappiness and the last thing the Oilers would need for the NHL to investigate the situation is because Kane opened his mouth and revealed that he is perfectly healthy and the Oilers are keeping him on the sidelines. The hope is that if the Oilers are considering doing this, it means Kane is not healthy enough to play. Taking the rules and applying them is not unethical, especially if the harm is legitimate.