Oilers’ Evander Kane ‘feels ready’ as he nears much-anticipated return
As Evander Kane nears his return from a 10-month absence, he’s glad both his mind and body are in the right place. The Edmonton Oilers winger has yet to suit up for the team this season as he continues to recover from multiple surgeries. Kane, 33, last played for the Oilers in the 2023-24 season as posted 24 goals and 20 assists through 77 regular-season games. He also made 20 playoff appearances with Edmonton that year. “Just going off last year … how I felt that year and what I was able to do, that gives me confidence with how I feel now,” Kane said Monday when asked about how ready he feels for a potential return. /* if ( "1" == true && 'undefined' !== typeof window.getIndexAds ) { var so = {preroll:{1:{1:{siteID:191888},2:{siteID:191889}}}}; adServerUrl = window.getIndexAds( 'http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?sz=640x360&cust_params=domain%3Dsportsnet.ca&iu=%2F7326%2Fen.sportsnet.web%2FVideo&ciu_szs=300x250&impl=s&gdfp_req=1&env=vp&output=vast&unviewed_position_start=1&ad_rule=1&vid=6371484413112&cmsid=384', so, permalink); } else { adServerUrl = "http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?sz=640x360&cust_params=domain%3Dsportsnet.ca&iu=%2F7326%2Fen.sportsnet.web%2FVideo&ciu_szs=300x250&impl=s&gdfp_req=1&env=vp&output=vast&unviewed_position_start=1&ad_rule=1&vid=6371484413112&cmsid=384"; } */ adServerUrl = "http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?sz=640x360&cust_params=domain%3Dsportsnet.ca&iu=%2F7326%2Fen.sportsnet.web%2FVideo&ciu_szs=300x250&impl=s&gdfp_req=1&env=vp&output=vast&unviewed_position_start=1&ad_rule=1&vid=6371484413112&cmsid=384"; var adServerUrl_result = adServerUrl.includes("cust_params"); var queryString=''; if(adServerUrl_result){ var gettheDUFI = false; if (localStorage.getItem("consent") !== null && localStorage.getItem("consent-targeting") !== null) gettheDUFI = localStorage.getItem("theRED_loc"); if(gettheDUFI){ queryString += "dufiid=" + gettheDUFI + '&'; queryString += "ppid=" + gettheDUFI + '&'; var ppid = "ppid=" + gettheDUFI + '&'; } var DUFI_IP = false; if (localStorage.getItem("consent") !== null && localStorage.getItem("consent-targeting") !== null) DUFI_IP = sessionStorage.getItem("DUFI_IP"); if(DUFI_IP){ queryString += "dufiip=" + DUFI_IP + '&'; } adServerUrl = adServerUrl.replace(/cust_params=/, ppid + 'cust_params=' + encodeURIComponent(queryString) ); } $el.after( unescape("%3Cscript src=\"" + (document.location.protocol == "https:" ? "https://sb" : "http://b") + ".scorecardresearch.com/beacon.js\" %3E%3C/script%3E") ); $( document ).one( 'ready', function() { $( "#video_container-454125" ).SNPlayer( { bc_account_id: "1704050871", bc_player_id: "JCdte3tMv", //autoplay: true, //is_has_autoplay_switch: false, bc_videos: 6371484413112, is_has_continuous_play: "false", adserverurl: adServerUrl, section: "", thumbnail: "https://www.sportsnet.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/6371484413112-1024x576.jpg", direct_url: "https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/video/oilers-kane-wants-to-make-sure-hes-not-operating-table-again/" }); }); He added that the feeling is similar to when he first joined Edmonton in 2021-22. “I feel a lot more confident coming back this year, at this time, being in shape and being ready. Feeling as good as I possibly can for when I come back.” When asked what the final step would be for him to be fully cleared for a return, Kane opted not to share details, while smirking, but did credit the amount of work put in to make a potential comeback possible. “Put a lot of work to feel really good up to this point. I’m really excited to get going here as soon as we get to 100 per cent, which should be pretty soon.” Above all else, however, Kane and the team want to make sure that when he does get back on the ice, there won’t be any more “setbacks.” “One of the things I want to make sure of is that I don’t end up back on an operating table again,” Kane added. “That’s why I wanted to go through that in the summer … to go through this rehab year with. And I’m really happy with how everything’s gone with my recovery and I’m feeling really good on the ice. And in the scenario that Kane’s return comes during Edmonton’s playoff run this year, he’s not concerned since “I could barely skate and played in the playoffs last year.” “If you’re comparing how I feel now to last year, I’m ready to go.” The Oilers have left open the possibility of Kane making his return in Game 1 of the

As Evander Kane nears his return from a 10-month absence, he’s glad both his mind and body are in the right place.
The Edmonton Oilers winger has yet to suit up for the team this season as he continues to recover from multiple surgeries.
Kane, 33, last played for the Oilers in the 2023-24 season as posted 24 goals and 20 assists through 77 regular-season games. He also made 20 playoff appearances with Edmonton that year.
“Just going off last year … how I felt that year and what I was able to do, that gives me confidence with how I feel now,” Kane said Monday when asked about how ready he feels for a potential return.
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He added that the feeling is similar to when he first joined Edmonton in 2021-22.
“I feel a lot more confident coming back this year, at this time, being in shape and being ready. Feeling as good as I possibly can for when I come back.”
When asked what the final step would be for him to be fully cleared for a return, Kane opted not to share details, while smirking, but did credit the amount of work put in to make a potential comeback possible.
“Put a lot of work to feel really good up to this point. I’m really excited to get going here as soon as we get to 100 per cent, which should be pretty soon.”
Above all else, however, Kane and the team want to make sure that when he does get back on the ice, there won’t be any more “setbacks.”
“One of the things I want to make sure of is that I don’t end up back on an operating table again,” Kane added. “That’s why I wanted to go through that in the summer … to go through this rehab year with. And I’m really happy with how everything’s gone with my recovery and I’m feeling really good on the ice.
And in the scenario that Kane’s return comes during Edmonton’s playoff run this year, he’s not concerned since “I could barely skate and played in the playoffs last year.”
“If you’re comparing how I feel now to last year, I’m ready to go.”
The Oilers have left open the possibility of Kane making his return in Game 1 of the post-season.