Evander Kane doesn’t seem inclined to waive his no-trade clause or be placed on LTIR to free up salary cap space for the Oilers.

A few weeks ago, Oilers President Jeff Jackson mentioned that Kane had been dealing with a hip injury and was still being evaluated to determine the best course of action regarding his contract situation. The team is reportedly looking to trade Kane to save costs and create cap space for other signings, as his $5.125 million salary is significant, especially if he’s not fully healthy.

«What makes him such a wild card is that it’s hard to read from day to day and interview to interview where Kane stands health-wise. CEO Jeff Jackson mentioned an «issue with his hp» and the nature of his injury and recovery path remains unclear. Meanwhile, Kane called it a «sports hernia» that was bugging him most of last season. Is it a hip? Is it a hernia? Is it a bit of both? Do either keep him out to the point he’s unreliable?»

If the Oilers can’t trade Kane or if he refuses to waive his NTC, they might consider placing him on long-term injured reserve, which would remove his salary from the cap. Kane’s NTC remains in effect until February 28, 2025, when it decreases to only 15 teams. This means the Oilers could wait until the trade deadline and then try to make a deal with half of the league’s teams.

Kane has two years left on his contract, with over $5 million owed each season. After scoring 24 goals and 44 points in 77 games, the Oilers must evaluate whether his salary aligns with his production. This is especially crucial as they need as much cap space as possible to re-sign Leon Draisaitl and, in two seasons, Connor McDavid.