Oilers striker Evander Kane could make his debut in the season in the first round series of the Western Conference against the Kings of Los Angeles, Edmonton coach Kris Knobauch said on Tuesday.
Kane, 33, has not played since match 2 of the Stanley 2024 Cup final on June 10 against the possible champion Florida Panthers, who won seven games. It was operated on September 20 to repair two torn hip adductor muscles, two hernias and two torn lower abdominal muscles. He also underwent arthroscopic knee surgery on January 9.
One day after a hectic defeat of 6-5 in the first match, the Oilers meet journalists in Los Angeles. They drag the Kings 1-0 in the best series, with the match 2 scheduled for Wednesday in Los Angeles.
“Kane is a possibility of returning, whether for match 2, match 3 or match 4,” said Knoblauch, who saw his team follow 4-0 Monday evening in match 1 before a furious rally has the match at 5-5. “But it should be soon.”
The coach said Kane had not been authorized by doctors, but he expects to see him play at some point in the series – although the targeting of match 2 “is a little premature”.
“I think Evander looks better today than in the final series (Cup) against Florida,” said Knoblauch. “He skates better, he moves better, his agility, all that. He looks more explosive. Yes, it is very difficult for a player to come back after a long section (out), but I think that Evander has a little factor X.”
Kane recorded 44 points (24 goals, 20 assists) in 77 regular season games in 2023-24 and eight points (four goals, four assists) in 20 playoffs.
He totaled 617 points (326 goals, 291 assists) during 930 regular career games with the Atlanta / Winnipeg (2009-15) franchise, Buffalo Sabers (2015-18), San Jose Sharks (2018-21) and Oilers. It was selected by the Thrashers with the fourth overall choice of the NHL 2009 recovery.
Knoblauch also said that defender John Klingberg (lower body injury) was “very close” to return to alignment after missing the last 10 games of the regular season and 6-5 defeat against the Kings in match 1 on Monday.
“Yes, he can certainly be a player for us in match 2,” said Knoblauch. “Let we make this decision tomorrow, but I would say that we will see it at some point in the series.”
Klingberg, 32, signed as free agent at Edmonton on January 17. He has not played since March 27 during a 6-1 defeat against the host Seattle Kraken. Klingberg has a goal, three assists, eight minutes of penalty, 13 blocks and five strokes in 11 games this season.
He has 82 goals and 416 career points with 263 minutes of penalty, 761 blocks and 434 strokes in 644 regular season games for the Dallas Stars (2014-22), Anaheim Ducks (2022-23), Minnesota Wild (2023), Toronto Maple Leafs (2023-24) and Oilrs.
Media information in the field was used in this report.
