Reports that the NHL is investigating Evander Kane and the Edmonton Oilers

NHL insider Frank Seravalli has dropped a bomb on the hockey world, reporting today that the NHL is investigating the Edmonton Oilers and forward Evander Kane for the team's use of long-term injury reserve (LTIR) for salary cap relief this past season.

Seravalli reports that the NHL is investigating whether or not the Oilers complied with the league's Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) when Kane returned to the team's lineup for the playoffs after missing the entirety of the regular season. There's no indication yet on what the Oilers' punishment might be if/when the league finds the team in violation of the CBA.

The Oilers are reportedly cooperating with the investigation and have supplied the NHL with medical records and doctors' opinions. Again, it remains unclear what sort of punishment the Oilers might be looking at, but it's worth noting that no other team has been scrutinized so heavily by the NHL for use of LTIR.

Tampa Bay Lightning superstar Nikita Kucherov missed the entire 2020-21 regular season on LTIR and then suited up for a dominant playoff performance that saw him put up 32 goals in 23 games en route to a Stanley Cup championship. Kucherov even mocked the LTIR rule by wearing a "$18 million over the cap" t-shirt in the Bolts' Stanley Cup parade.

It's interesting to note that this CBA loophole has existed and has been exploited for years now, but that the Oilers are the first team to receive any real scrutiny for it by the league. Maybe Gary Bettman and company really DO have it out for Canadian teams? Take it from here, conspiracy theorists...