UPDATE — Jan 27, 9:45 MT
It looks like Evander Kane could be an Oiler by the end of the day on Thursday.
Former NHL referee Tim Peel posted on Twitter that the wheels are in motion for the Oilers to sign Kane, a report that Frank Seravalli confirmed to be accurate so long as Kane is cleared of disciplinary action…
ORIGINAL POST, Jan 26, 14:30 MT
The Evander Kane sweepstakes are back on.
And according to TSN’s Darren Dreger, a ruling on Kane’s potential punishment could come as soon as tomorrow.
That punishment stems from Kane breaching his standard player contract as well the AHL’s COVID-19 rules. Kane allegedly traveled to Vancouver while positive for the virus in December.
Kane, 30, would join the Oilers after spending the last four seasons with the San Jose Sharks. That club terminated his standard player contract last month after Kane traveled to Vancouver while positive for COVID-19.
Earlier this year, Kane served a 21-game suspension for providing falsified vaccination papers. Upon his return from suspension, he joined the AHL’s San Jose Barracuda where he scored two goals and eight points in five games.
TSN’s Ryan Rishaug reported Kane has been skating for “a week or so” in Vancouver in preparations for an NHL return.
The addition would be a strong one on ice for the Oilers. Kane has proved in the past he can play with top-talent and the Oilers will have a plethora of options for that. With Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl up the middle, Kane could slide in as a winger for either superstar and provide some high-end shooting talent.
Other off-ice issues have followed him from Winnipeg, to Buffalo, and later to San Jose that culminated in the team trying to trade him.
Zach Laing is the Nation Network’s news director and senior columnist. He can be followed on Twitter at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach@oilersnation.com.