Latest Evander Kane update upsets Oilers fans

Last week, NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly confirmed to reporters that the upcoming arbitration ruling between Evander Kane and his former team the San Jose Sharks may not come as early as the league had hoped. Kane and the Sharks are having their cases heard by an arbitrator to determine whether or not Kane’s contract was properly terminated and whether or not Kane is entitled to the remaining amount of the remaining $21 million of his seven year contract. Daly confirmed that Kane’s case won’t be resolved before the start of free agency.

Kane is a pending unrestricted free agent who is free to sign with any team or can negotiate an extension to stay with the Edmonton Oilers if he chooses to.

The Oilers want him back and on Wednesday general manager Ken Holland reiterated his desire to sign Kane in Edmonton. However, he is facing, as he puts it, “uncharted waters” seeing how the grievance process might hinder the Oilers’ ability to sign the forward.

“I don’t really have an answer for you.”

Kane joined the Edmonton Oilers midway through the 2021-22 season on a one-year deal after having a previous contract terminated by the San Jose Sharks. Kane put up 22 goals and 17 assists in 43 regular-season games for the Oilers, while adding 13 goals and four assists in 15 playoff games after signing for the team in January. We get why the Oilers want to keep him.

However, fans are well too aware that this means moving other players from the lineup in order to make room for Kane. Hearing about Holland’s desire to re-sign the controversial forward got them reacting on Wednesday after the GM’s comments.

Kane is good, very good, but he comes in with his loads of other problems, including allegations of domestic violence by his estranged wife, multiple allegations of assault, a lawsuit brought on and eventually dropped by a Las Vegas casino for unpaid gambling debts, a bankruptcy filing and the falsification of COVID vaccination documents that resulted in a 21-game suspension and the termination of his Sharks contract.

We get why fans are unsure, and especially how they don’t want to lose key pieces to make room for Kane.