Edmonton Oilers begin team skating ahead of the season with one key name absent due to injury

The Edmonton Oilers have a crucial training camp ahead as they look to go one step further in 2024/25, but they'll begin without a key veteran on the ice.

The Edmonton Oilers intriguing roster is beginning to take shape ahead of the new NHL season, but as training camp begins, there's one glaring absence from the ice. That would be Evander Kane, who is not yet in shape to do so, and according to reporters in Edmonton, he's not expected to pass a physical, and will need to take time off to have surgery.

This would potentially allow the Oilers to place him on LTIR and clear up plenty of salary cap space, but it would also be a big loss to their lineup, as Kane has shown over the past two years that he is very valuable to their lineup. However, with the additions of Jeff Skinner and Victor Arvidsson, as well as the potential rise of Matthew Savoie, they have the names to make up for it now, with LTIR likely the best case scenario for both parties.

Kane's current cap hit comes in at $5.1 million, and if the team can clear that up, it would allow them to make a huge move ahead of the trade deadline, but for now, it's unclear just how long the 33-year old will be out. It's becoming clear however that he is likely to miss the start of the regular season, and if played properly, this could be used to a huge advantage for Edmonton, so we will wait and see how new GM Stan Bowman plays things as the season approaches.

Source: Blade of SteelOilers Veterans Begin Team Skates Ahead Of Training Camp With One Key Member Missing

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