It’s official: Evander Kane signs with Oilers for rest of the season

Jan 28 2022, 12:01 am

Evander Kane is officially a member of the Edmonton Oilers. 

Dan Milstein, Kane’s agent, tweeted out Kane and the Oilers had agreed to contract terms for the 2021-22 season. Reports circulated throughout the day that the player and team had reached a verbal agreement on a contract, a one-year, $2.1 million prorated pact. 

Kane, who will wear No. 91 with the Oilers, is expected to travel to Edmonton later Thursday.

The 30-year-old has been a prolific scorer throughout his 12 years in the NHL.

He scored 26 goals in 64 games in 2019-20, and 22 goals in 56 games last season.

“Obviously Evander Kane is a good player,” Oilers defenceman Duncan Keith said earlier Thursday. “He’s, I think, a big, strong power forward that’s hard to play against. As far as the leadership group, just talk to the guy and talk to different players and get to know them. You try to make everybody feel comfortable, welcome, and part of the unit.

“He’s no different than anybody else coming to the team midway through the season or a trade or whatever.”

Kane’s signing comes on the same day the NHL cleared him of an investigation into his his cross-border travel into Vancouver without proper medical clearance while COVID-positive in December.

Kane was suspended for 21 games by the NHL earlier this season for “violation of, and lack of compliance with, the NHL/NHLPA COVID-19 Protocol,” and had his contract terminated by the San Jose Sharks last month for “breach of his NHL Standard Player Contract and for violation of AHL COVID-19 protocols,”

The NHLPA has filed a grievance on behalf of Kane, who had the final three-and-a-half years of his seven-year, $49 million contract axed.

Originally selected in the first round (No. 4) in the 2009 NHL Draft, Kane has has 506 points (264 goals, 242 assists) over 12 seasons with the Atlanta Thrashers/Winnipeg Jets, Buffalo Sabres, and San Jose Sharks.

Aaron VickersAaron Vickers

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