Under what are still mysterious circumstances, the Edmonton Oilers scratched forward Evander Kane for last Sunday’s game against the Ottawa Senators.
Although it was said to be a maintenance day by Head Coach Kris Knoblauch, other places suggested it was more along the lines of a coach’s decision, including Kane’s interview where he would not elaborate and seemed dismissive of the idea he was hurt.
It leaves open the potential of this being a performance related healthy scratch. One that is, quite frankly, deserved. Kane has struggled of late, with zero goals and four points in his last 18 games. His role has been slowly reduced on the team and he most regularly finds himself on the third line—a role he did not seem too keen on earlier in the season.
Kane has two more seasons left on his contract after this, a deal which comes with an AAV of $5.125M. For a cap strapped team that will only be under more pressure over the next two seasons, there comes the possibility that the money allocated to Kane would be better spent elsewhere.
This week, we brought it up to Oilers fans to have their say on what the team should do with Evander Kane.
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Play him where he wants; get him in the top six
Generally speaking, Kane has played his best hockey when he plays on one of the top two forward lines. So why not keep him there? That is the general belief of 27.1% of the fan vote this week, which finished second in the poll.
You want to put players in situations in which they will succeed. And generally, Kane performs much better in the top six than he has in the bottom.
From the 2021–22 season through now, when on the ice without McDavid, Kane has a 49.6 expected goals percentage while generating 49.6% of scoring chances. With McDavid, their expected goals percentage jumps to 54.5% and scoring chances for are at 52.9%.
In the same time frame, however, those numbers flip with Draisaitl. Without Draisaitl, Kane has 53.4% of the expected goal share with 51.7% of the scoring chances. When the two are on the ice together, the expected goals percentage drops to 48.4% with 49.6% of the scoring chances.
So, if Kane is to play in the top six, on McDavid’s wing is likely the better choice. And this could be just what is needed for him to find his game. McDavid is on a quest to hit 100 assists this season, and Kane currently has his lowest shooting percentage as an Oiler, and lowest since he was in Buffalo in 2017–18. McDavid knows how to set up goals, and Kane may need a few of those to get his game going again.
Kane hasn’t been deserving of anything more than the bottom six
The Oilers are doing quite well currently without Kane’s presence in the top six, so there is no real sense of urgency to shake things up and give him a chance again in the top six when the top two lines are clicking. The winner of this week’s poll, keep him in the bottom six, earned 49.2% of the fan vote.
And it makes sense. Someone who hasn’t scored in over a month and is barely contributing in other ways is not going to help the top six. Nor should that player get given that spot when other players are contributing in positive ways.
Someone of Kane’s skillset should still be useful in a third line role. He needs to be a physical and agitating presence, it is a large reason of why the Oilers brought him in in the first place. And with 55 hits in those 18 games, he is doing just that. But to be given a place in the top six on this team, he needs to be able to keep up with McDavid or Draisaitl and help contribute offensively.
Time to trade Kane?
In third place in this week’s poll is the option to trade Kane. It gained 22.1% of the fan vote. This is an interesting option, as alluded to above, the Oilers might be able to find better ways to use Kane’s $5.125M cap hit than an aging, inconsistent winger who has dropped to the third line. There are internal options for that position that are far cheaper, such as Dylan Holloway or Raphael Lavoie.
Additionally, building a trade package around a consistent 20-goal scorer could potentially lead to bringing in an upgrade at right defence at the same time. A rebuilding team could have more opportunity for Kane in their lineup while also being more willing to part with a quality right defender.
Just buy Kane out in the offseason
Last place in this week’s poll is the option to buy out Kane’s contract in the offseason. With just 1.7% of the vote, it is not the preferred choice of many Oilers fans. And in terms of cap management, it is not the wisest choice. Especially when there should be at least one team looking for a player of Kane’s player type to bolster their own depth.
Looking at the buyout calculator courtesy of Capfriendly, this would barely help the Oilers.
Next season, it would only save the Oilers $1.625M. Considering the deferred bonuses to be paid to Connor Brown and Corey Perry, there would barely be enough room freed up to even find a replacement player. And the Oilers are already running a player short of a full roster for cap reasons. Over the course of the full buyout, it would only save $2.25M.
If the decision is to part ways with Kane, there is likely a better way to do it, via a trade.
What do you think the Oilers should do with Evander Kane? Drop a comment down below!
Photo by Ric Tapia/Icon Sportswire
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Leave Kane play on the third line with Mcleod and Perry. If he is unhappy and still after season over or a Stanley cup, then trade him. He now needs to be productive like Perry is and if not we don’t need him anymore
I find that Kane had done well, he greatly helped the Oilers in the playoffs when he was playing with McDavid, What I see is Kane did much better under Jay Woodcroft, He was on the top two lines where he should be. I have been put down a lot and I found when people are watching me for mistakes, I make those mistakes, When Kane played with Perry and Draisaitl recently, that line did great but then this coach took that apart and put Kane back on the third line again. I question this coach?
I think he is an asset where he is. He can definitely check and hits hard. Should be up against the other teams 1st and 2nd lines to soften them up. I like him I just wish he was scoring more
“Play him on the top line to find his game”?
How about earn your way to the top line!
Needs to stop pouting and yapping after every whistle and put his head down and work his way through the slump….on the bottom six.