Evander Kane signs four-year contract to remain with Oilers

Evander Kane's time with the Edmonton Oilers isn't over just yet.

Kane agreed to a four-year, $20.5-million contract with the Oilers early Wednesday morning. The 30-year-old announced the signing on his Twitter account.

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“A big part of my decision to stay in Edmonton was because of the opportunity given to me only seven months ago, but also the chance to be a part of a championship team,” Kane wrote.

“Throughout the last 12 months, there have been lots of road blocks, tons of adversity and many tough days,” he added. “I'm grateful for the tremendous amount of support from family, friends, teammates and others who have helped me stay strong through these difficult times.”

Kane joined the Oilers in January after the San Jose Sharks terminated his contract following a breach of COVID-19 protocols while he was in the AHL. In addition to violating those rules, Kane has dealt with a number of troubling off-ice issues that threatened his NHL career, including sexual assault and domestic abuse allegations.

On the ice, Kane made an immediate impact and scored 22 goals and 39 points in just 43 games with Edmonton. He took his game to another level in the playoffs with 13 goals and 17 assists in 15 games as the Oilers made a run to the Western Conference final before being swept by the Colorado Avalanche.

Kane has spent 13 seasons in the NHL since being drafted fourth overall by the Atlanta Thrashers in 2009. His career has included stops with the Winnipeg Jets and Buffalo Sabres in addition to the Sharks and Oilers.

The Vancouver native has recorded 286 goals and 545 points in the NHL.

With Kane locked up, Oilers general manager Ken Holland can turn his attention to acquiring a reliable goaltender — an issue that has plagued the franchise for years.

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