Kane bravely playing through injury but it may be hurting Oilers

Edmonton Oilers forward Evander Kane deserves a ton of credit for gutting things out, but it may be getting to the point where it’s hurting his team.

Kane has been banged up not only in the playoffs but, by his own admission, the majority of the season. The 32-year-old told reporters ahead of the Oilers’ first-round series that he has been battling a sports hernia for a lengthy stretch of time.

When at his best, Kane is a force for the Oilers, perhaps best displayed in their 2022 playoff run, where he scored 13 goals in 15 games. Unfortunately for his team, he has been nowhere close to that same player this time around.

Kane has found the back of the net just four times through 20 games and is clearly labouring. He’s been unable to sit on the bench whenever he comes off the ice, instead electing to stand, presumably to ease his pain.

Whether a reaggravation of the same injury or something new, he was in really rough shape in Game 6 of the Western Conference Final, as he headed down the tunnel after throwing a hit on Alex Petrovic and wound up playing less than five minutes.

evander kane hobbles down the tunnel after laying a hit on alex petrovic nears the benches. pic.twitter.com/ApyRee41Ps

— zach (@zjlaing) June 3, 2024

Kane was very limited once again in last night’s loss to the Florida Panthers, playing just 10:33. His usual physicality has been lacking, while his offence has completely dried up. He has just one assist through his last nine games and is goalless over that same stretch.

As much as Kane’s toughness is valued by the Oilers, especially in a series against a physically imposing team like the Florida Panthers, he doesn’t appear capable of providing it right now.

It’s nearing the point that head coach Kris Knoblauch may have to consider sitting him in favour of some healthier Oilers forwards, such as Derek Ryan, Sam Gagner, or Corey Perry, who all sat as healthy scratches in Game 2.

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