Oilers Give Permission to Evander Kane to Talk to Other Teams

There are updates regarding talks between the Edmonton Oilers and Evander Kane’s camp, updates that suggest GM Ken Holland is taking an interesting strategy when it comes to negotiating with the player. While the Oilers are said to want to re-sign Kane, it sounds like they’re only willing to go so high on an extension and to prove to him he’s got a fair offer on the table, they’ve told him to talk to other teams ahead of free agency on Wednesday.

According to speculation, the Oilers have offered Kane a four-year deal at around $4 million per season. Rumors are that he’s looking for much more than that so Holland has essentially said, ‘ok, go see if anyone is willing to offer what we are and if that team gives you the same opportunity to win and play with you know who here’. Kane’s agent Dan Milstein confirmed that information. He says, `”We were granted permission to speak with other clubs. While we are still hopeful to have a deal in place with Edmonton, we are starting the interview process with other clubs.” While keeping the Oil an option, Kane already on the market.”

DEVELOPING – Evander Kane’s agent Dan Milstein says their camp has permission to speak with other #NHL clubs (via @PierreVLeBrun): https://t.co/vxHnXQ3vrm#TSNHockey pic.twitter.com/OOLmbFK9Vz

— TSN Hockey (@TSNHockey) July 11, 2022

Tim Peel’s announcement that the Oilers have offered Kane a four-year deal in the mid $4 million range per season is also fascinating because it suggests the team isn’t willing to go overboard with Kane when they’ve got plenty of other options out there. Kane was a great fit and the Oilers would love to have him back, but they believe they have a handle on what the market might be for this player or they know their own situation well and can go to Plan B if a team overpays Kane. Two things could happen: either Kane signs elsewhere and the Oilers move on to names like Claude Giroux, Dylan Strome, Andre Burakovsky and others, or Kane comes back after seeing what isn’t available and decides the Oilers’ offer is decent.

Either way, the Oilers seem to believe they’ll be ok and aren’t willing to overpay for a player that had great chemistry with Connor McDavid, but is ultimately replaceable.

Oilers Want Him, But Not That Badly

Frank Seravalli writes, “Kane’s camp is steadfast in their belief he can earn in the range of $40 to $50 million on the market this week in a new pact elsewhere on the market. The Oilers, meanwhile, do not appear willing to sign Kane to a long-term contract.” He adds that the Oilers are believed to have presented numerous offers that they think covers a wide range of options, including some creative shorter-term ones that capitalize on him being productive. Seravalli notes, “But there is a limit to their interest.”

Meanwhile, in the background lurks the grievance case with the San Jose Sharks. The Oilers aren’t keen about waiting for that to sort itself out either. Holland won’t take the chance that while he waits on the NHL arbitrator to sort through that information, he loses some of the best options available to him on the market. Holland has holes to fill and more than with just a winger on the top line.

Next: Could the New York Rangers Have an Interest in Patrick Kane?