Evander Kane Trade Would Allow Oilers to Reload for Stanley Cup Run Amid NHL Rumors

Erik BeastonJuly 2, 2024

Dave Sandford/NHLI via Getty Images

The NHL may be making headlines for a record-setting star to free agency Monday, with teams bringing new players on board in hopes of chasing a Stanley Cup victory, but the defending Western Conference champion Edmonton Oilers are working to convince one of their players to waive a no-trade clause.

Eliotte Friedman of the 32 Thoughts podcast reported that “there were rumors that they had asked Evander Kane to waive his no move clause but as of Saturday, that had not occurred,” (h/t The Hockey News for the transcription).

According to CapFriendly, Kane’s contract is a $5.125 million hit against the salary cap in 2024. It makes sense that the team would be interested in trading him and opening up at least some of that money so it can reload for another Stanley Cup run.

There is reason for the Oilers to want to hold onto him. Kane had his most points (44) since the 2020-21 season and added eight more during the playoffs. He played with steady consistency throughout the season and gave the team an average of 18:49 of ice team per game.

Still, the contract is too big to justify and the team has needs.

As it was a roster constructed of one-year deals and expiring contracts that the team acquired at the deadline, the Oilers will need to provide depth for its core.

The best way to accomplish that is to free up cap space and trade players who are either aging or whose value is in their monetary worth to the franchise.

That second one is the category that Kane falls in at this point.

Unfortunately for Edmonton, Kane holds all the cards and can refuse any trade based on the clause in his contract.

How the team gets him to waive that clause so that he can be dealt to an organization that can provide those depth players remains to be seen but the Oilers will not be able to maximize their roster as long as Kane and his $5 million are on the books.

There is relief for the team. In March, Kane’s clause turns into a modified one, in which he has to present Edmonton with a list of 16 teams he does not want traded to. Everyone else would be fair game.

Whether that is too late in the game for the Oilers is the question.