January 16, 2023 by Mike Dirsa

Evander Kane’s return is imminent after he was injured November 8, 2022 in a 3-2 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning when he was accidentally cut across the wrist by a skate. Kane had emergency surgery and was immediately placed on LTIR by the Edmonton Oilers. The original timeline for his return was mid-February. On Monday January 16th Kane is meeting with the Oiler’s team doctors and it has been rumored he might return as early as Tuesday’s game at Rogers Place against the Seattle Kraken.

The Oilers have certainly missed Kane’s services while he has been on the mend. After last season’s run to the Western Conference Final, expectations for this season were high. The team without Kane have struggled to hang on to a playoff spot and the problems with the construction of this team have been magnified due to his absence.

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During his recovery, Kane has been skating and practicing with the team. So you can expect that Kane should be close to game shape when he draws back into the lineup. How long until he regains his form, timing, and speed? Who will be stepping up for the Oilers to give Kane time to transition back in?

When Kane was inserted last year he helped catapult this team into the playoffs and a deep run. The Oilers came into the season with the expectation that the success could be duplicated. However, my expectations are a little tempered because I know a wrist injury can change a players shot, puck handling and general willingness to play the game. The good news is there’s more than Connor McDavid playing well this time around.

Coming off the most recent road trip the Oilers are trending in the right direction. The Oilers took six of eight points and won a game against the Las Vegas Golden Knights on the back end of a back to back to end the trip.

Who has stepped up?

Klim Kostin’s emergence as a power forward will take some of the pressure off of Kane to provide the physical edge. Vincent Desharnais made his NHL debut in Anaheim against the Anaheim Ducks and has played well in all three games including the game in Vegas against the division leading Las Vegas Golden Knights. Jack Campbell is starting to look like the goalie we were all hoping for when he was signed by the Oilers in the off-season. Mattias Janmark has elevated his game and also managed to score just forty five seconds into the game against the Golden Knights.

The emergence of all of these players should allow Kane to focus on getting his game back up to speed as the Oilers continue to try to climb the standings and solidify a playoff spot.

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When Kane does return the Oilers will be set to go into the stretch drive and hunt down a playoff spot. Kane’s own self diagnosis is he’s ready, the wrist is as good as it will get, and he wants to be back in the game. The only thing we are waiting for is the doctors okay. This we should know right away.