Fresh, rested Oilers feel ready for Stanley Cup Final — perhaps none more than Evander Kane

New York Times

2 days ago

EDMONTON – Even without injured right winger Zach Hyman, the Edmonton Oilers feel better prepared to handle the Florida Panthers in the Stanley Cup Final than they did a year ago.
The collective health of the rest of the group is a big reason for that optimism.
'It's not just injuries,' Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch said. 'We've been able to play fewer games. We've had long breaks between two series. Last year, we never had that. The seven-game series against Vancouver was tough. Dallas, it felt like it took a much bigger toll on us.
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'Overall, I'd say we're in a little bit better position physically.'
That starts with Evander Kane.
'It's fun to be a part of it and not have any question marks,' he said.
Kane played through the 2024 playoffs with a sports hernia and was a shell of his best self. He stood up on the bench during games because it was too painful to sit down. He had only 4 minutes, 39 seconds, of ice time when the Oilers closed out the Dallas Stars in Game 6 in the Western Conference final. He was done by time the Stanley Cup Final shifted to Edmonton.
'It was not fun,' Kane said. 'You're getting needles on off days just to be able to walk around.
'That was last year. I'm really excited we get another crack at it this year and feeling the way I'm feeling.'
Kane has been a difference-maker for the Oilers this postseason. He made his season debut in Game 2 of the first-round series against the Los Angeles Kings after missing the entire regular season following core surgeries in September and a knee scope in January. He's since played up and down the lineup, recording five goals and 11 points in 15 games.
He's had some signature moments, including a pair of one-goal, one-assist efforts in the first and second rounds. He scored an insurance marker in Game 5 of the Western Conference final last Thursday with Hyman out of commission after he underwent surgery for an upper-body injury.
The Oilers, without Hyman, will need the best of Kane against the Panthers. He believes he's ready for that challenge, especially after missing most of the Final last June. He'll be expected to play with an edge, intimidate and perhaps provide the antidote to Panthers pest Matthew Tkachuk, as he did in the 2022 series against the Calgary Flames.
'I've been in the league 16 years. I think I've shown that I enjoy that side of the game,' Kane said, smiling. 'It's part of the competitiveness, part of the spirit of the NHL playoffs. It's something that I enjoy. At the same time, you want to be smart with it and make sure you're playing hockey first.'
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Kane could be a catalyst in this series. He moved up to the second line with Leon Draisaitl and Kasperi Kapanen when Hyman left the lineup. He's expected to remain in a top-six role to start the Final.
But the Oilers have more than just Kane to offset Hyman's loss.
Knoblauch said Connor Brown will return to the lineup for the Final opener after missing the last two games of the Dallas series because he was hit by Alex Petrovic in Game 3. Combine Brown with the added depth, and Hyman's loss isn't nearly the issue that would have been in past seasons.
'We're better equipped this year, especially up front — a lot more physical players,' Knoblauch said.
'We did a great job in Game 5 against Dallas,' Kane said. 'This time around, we have a lot more depth throughout the entirety of our lineup. If we need scoring, we have scoring. If we need some guys that can be a little more physical, we can be more physical. Unfortunately, we're going to have to use that depth, and we're going to have to get the job done with it.'
On defense, getting Mattias Ekholm back is a huge boost. He played just short of 16 minutes in his return from a lower-body injury in Game 5 — his 2025 postseason debut and his first appearance since April 11 — while recording an assist and two blocked shots and taking a penalty.
'He looked a lot like we're accustomed to seeing Ekky play,' Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch said.
Knoblauch expects him to be closer to his 22:12 average from the regular season in Game 1 of the Final.
The initial prognosis for Ekholm, after his second failed attempt to return from his injury, was that he'd miss the entire postseason. But now the injury is not even on his mind.
'It's been feeling good for a couple weeks, but you've also got to get beyond that mental thing where you trust it and you can go 100 percent in every situation and not think so much,' Ekholm said. 'I feel really good, and I feel like I trust my body.'
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The one advantage for the Oilers, at least compared to a year ago, is they don't need to tax Ekholm if it's not necessary. They can spread around the ice time and duties more evenly.
They might have their best and most well-rounded group of defensemen since the glory days of the 1980s.
'We have a D corps that can move the puck, that can skate,' Darnell Nurse said. 'We have elements of physicality and compete. I like our group. I really do like the six guys that can go out there.
'We've showed, too, over the course of the playoffs, that we've had guys waiting to get in the lineup that can make an impact as well.'
Ekholm was back with usual partner Evan Bouchard in the Western Conference final clincher, whereas Darnell Nurse and Brett Kulak were paired together, as were Jake Walman with John Klingberg. The blue line has undergone quite the transformation with Walman and Klingberg in the mix – plus extras Troy Stecher and Ty Emberson – compared to having Cody Ceci, Vincent Desharnais and Philip Broberg a year ago.
'Nothing against our defense last year. There's a little bit of a changeover,' Knoblauch said. 'They way these guys are playing right now and the personnel we have with the types of players, we like that.'
With Ekholm being eased back into the lineup last game, ice times ranged from Klingberg's 17:29 to Kulak's 22:32.
'You look at the two D corps, and I thought we had a good D corps last year as well,' Ekholm said. 'But this year, we're different. We're more mobile. We have three pairs that can play against top lines. They can play against bottom lines. We can all do it.
'Knowing that every pair can contribute both offensively and defensively is hopefully something that'll be in our favor.'
It's not as though everyone is completely healthy entering the Stanley Cup Final.
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The Oilers had many players sidelined as the regular season ended and, although they all returned, playoff hockey doesn't exactly tickle. Brown is recovering from his injury. McDavid left Sunday's practice, though Knoblauch said he'll be back on the ice with his teammates on Tuesday.
Still, the Oilers believe they're in a better spot than they were a year ago. Having Kane play at closer to his 2022 postseason level, when he was scoring goals and getting under opponents' skins, compared to last year's form goes a long way.
'Do I think he can make a difference? Absolutely,' Knoblauch said. 'We missed him last year. I think he'll be a big part of this series now.'
(Photo of Evander Kane: Leila Devlin / Getty Images)