January 31, 2022 by Mike Dirsa

The afternoon of January 28th, 2022 the Edmonton Oilers announced they had signed Evander Kane to a one year deal. The reaction from the Oilers’ fanbase was swift, filled with strong opinions, and heavily divided. 

After years of off-ice drama, there are still many questions about his character. The most serious allegations center around sexual and domestic abuse, which have ultimately led to some fans deciding to boycott the team. 

After reading up on Kane’s situation, it has led me to the conclusion that his relationship with his ex-wife was very toxic, but not enough is known to understand what the truth really is. In my personal experience, I don’t know what it’s like to go through an abusive relationship. However, I do have compassion for those who have suffered through abuse and don’t want to come across as insensitive, but at the center of my belief, I believe in innocence until proven guilty and that it’s wrong to assume guilt before having all the facts. Having said that, it is hard not to have a feeling of apprehension with the Kane signing. This signing will undoubtedly challenge the leadership core, the coaching staff,  and the management of the Edmonton Oilers.

What I know. Everyone has a past. Some people choose to leave the past behind them and some people choose to learn from their past to become a better person. When it comes to Kane, he’s left us with some questions. He has admitted to doing some counseling, but I question whether his motivations are based on self improvement or public image. The fact he has custody of his daughter has been a rally cry for those who feel he’s worthy of a chance, but a simple investigation of the custody hearing shows that custody was awarded because his ex-wife broke a gag order.  I welcome you to draw your own conclusions, but for me that is the equivalent of getting off on a speeding ticket for a spelling error. I don’t put a lot of stock into it.

My biggest concern with Kane is the situation moving forward. There is no question he has had a lot of problems off the ice. The 30-year-old winger is coming into an Edmonton hockey market that faces heavy scrutiny from fans and media everyday. There is nowhere to hide in Edmonton as a hockey player and it can be a difficult place to play under the best of circumstances. It’s my opinion that Kane needs to put a lot more work into improving himself as a person to have any success in Edmonton and in his hockey career beyond this season. If he isn’t committed to putting in the work off the ice, I don’t think this arrangement will work out. 

There is a parallel to this story that happened with the great Chicago Bulls of the Michael Jordan era. Ironically Kane is going to wear No. 91 as an Oiler, the same number Dennis Rodman wore for the Chicago Bulls. Rodman, like Kane, was traded to the Bulls after having problems with players in the San Antonio Spurs locker room. Dennis also had a lot of issues in his life outside of the gym. Before Rodman ended up in Chicago, Phil Jackson went to Scottie Pippen and Jordan to see if they were open to Dennis joining the team. Scottie and Dennis had a history of some bad blood on the court, but Pippen agreed with Jordan that Rodman could help the team win. Jordan and Jackson put a lot of energy into keeping Dennis on track. The Bulls with Rodman went on to win three more championships and the experiment turned out to be successful. Some of this is already similar to the Kane signing.

Perhaps I’m wishful, but this Kane signing feels familiar to Rodman going to Chicago. For this to work out for Edmonton they will have to do more than facilitate Kane on the ice. He is going to require the leadership group of this team and the coaching staff’s constant attention. Kane is sure to be a difference on the ice but will need help off it from the organization. If there is a commitment from Kane to turn his life around this may work, but ultimately it is up to him. The team can use the player and the player can use the team. This is another reclamation project for this organization that has had some successful examples of those through the years. 

Despite the opportunity for the Oilers, there are those fans I mentioned that are looking to boycott the team. For those fans, the signing of Kane represents the organization looking only at wins and disregarding the negative aspects of Kane’s life. These fans have distanced themselves from the team and I can respect that.  I am not the gate keeper for Oilers fandom.  People are free to be a fan of this team for a variety of reasons and they are also free to pull the chute on their fandom for any reason they seem fit. 

For these fans, I remember Allen Iverson’s words during the Kobe Bryant rape trial that have stuck with me. He said, “You guys see him as this white knight who rides in on this white horse and can do no wrong and I am here to tell you that there’s nobody that’s squeaky clean.” That quote has stuck with me and it’s very sobering. I used to judge myself by thinking I was better than other people, but I’m not. I’ve made lots of mistakes in my life and I choose to learn and grow from them, but I have learned that I am not above anyone.

Kane has a lot of demons he needs to exercise to be a better person. Some people have chosen to convict Kane before the court system has had its final word, but I have not. It’s a delicate subject to be sure. After all of this, I’ll remain an Oiler fan and I will still have some concern about this acquisition, but I know I have no control over it, so I’m along for the ride.