Oilers Forward Linked to Offseason Trade After Overcoming Injuries

The Edmonton Oilers may revisit the idea of moving Evander Kane this offseason, with his market staying strong after it already appeared to be there at last season's trade deadline.

According to NHL insider Elliotte Friedman, the team already explored that path earlier this year, although Kane's injuries played a part in the Oilers not finding a trade partner.

Kane underwent multiple surgeries and missed the entire 2024–25 regular season. His issues included torn adductor muscles, hernias, and a torn abdominal wall. Lastly, Kane also had arthroscopic knee surgery in January.

“I think they explored the market for him before the deadline,” Friedman said on Sportnet's "The FAN Hockey Show" on Wednesday. “And just because he wasn’t healthy, there wasn’t much to go on there.”

Doctors cleared Kane to return just before the playoffs, and he suited up in Game 2 of the first-round series against Los Angeles for the first time this season.

Kane ended the playoffs contributing six goals and six assists across 21 postseason games.

Despite the health setbacks, Friedman believes teams remain interested in trading for the veteran forward.

“I think there will be a market for him,” Friedman said.

Edmonton Oilers left wing Evander Kane (91) reacts with left wing Viktor Arvidsson (33) after scoring a goal against the Florida Panthers.

Perry Nelson-Imagn Images

Friedman, however, acknowledged potential complications involving Kane’s personal life, as well as the fact that he could block a move to half the league thanks to a modified, 16-team no-trade clause (NTC) in his contract.

“He just had another child,” Friedman said. “So we’ll see how he and the others feel about all this. Not everybody’s always interested in moving once their family expands.”

Kane has one year left on his four-year, $20.5 million contract. His cap hit sits at $5.125 million, but if the Oilers want to trade him, he'd need to leave that destination out of his no-trade list.