Oilers navigate salary cap struggles as Kane's injury alters trade plans
The Edmonton Oilers find themselves in a financial bind as the NHL season approaches, sitting $350K over the salary cap.
This crunch necessitated potential trades to free up space, with players like Cody Ceci, Brett Kulak, and Evander Kane in the spotlight. However, recent developments regarding Kane's health have shifted the team's immediate strategy.
Kane, slated to start the upcoming season on the injured reserve (LTIR), has effectively taken a trade option off the table for the Oilers. With his absence confirmed, his $5.125M salary will be exempt from the salary cap calculations as long as he remains on LTIR. This exemption could span a significant period, especially if surgery is required, hinting at the possibility that Kane might miss the entire regular season.
While the LTIR designation offers the Oilers temporary cap relief, it also deprives them of one of their key players. Kane's potential to miss the entire year and then aim for a playoff return poses both a challenge and an opportunity for the team. His no-movement clause this season complicates matters further, though next season it shifts to a limited no-trade list, suggesting a potential exit once he's rehabilitated.
In response to Kane's situation, the Oilers have already made strategic additions, signing forwards Jeff Skinner and Victor Arvidsson. These signings, while bolstering the team's offensive lineup, also indicate a diminishing role for Kane, making his eventual trade seem more probable.
Despite the focus on Kane, the Oilers' management continues to explore other roster adjustments, particularly on defence. The team floated Ceci and Kulak as possible trade pieces but has yet to finalize any deals. The defence remains a point of concern, with the team potentially looking to strengthen their top-four right shot defenders-a role currently filled by Ceci.
Internally, the Oilers are not short on options, with depth defenders like Troy Stecher, Josh Brown, and Connor Carrick ready to step in. This depth provides some cushion as the team navigates through these roster challenges.
The news of Kane's LTIR status is undoubtedly a setback for the Oilers, but it also offers a respite from the pressing salary cap issues. As the team looks ahead, the focus will be on optimizing their roster for a strong playoff run, hopefully with a fully recovered Kane ready to contribute.
This situation illustrates the delicate balance between managing health, player contracts, and team strategy in professional sports-a balance the Oilers will continue to navigate as they prepare for the upcoming NHL season.
Source for Salary Cap Data:
| POLL | ||
Is it likely that Evander Kane will be an Oilers player this coming season? | ||
| Yes | 27 | 77.1 % |
| No | 8 | 22.9 % |
| See Results | 0 | 0 % |
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