Just hours after another gut-wrenching defeat in the Stanley Cup Final, the Edmonton Oilers are facing further adversity — this time off the ice.
The National Hockey League, under the leadership of Commissioner Gary Bettman, has opened an investigation into the Oilers over their use of Long Term Injured Reserve (LTIR) involving forward Evander Kane.
The probe centers on whether the Oilers may have improperly utilized the LTIR system during the 2024–25 season, particularly around Kane’s return in the postseason.
The scrutiny follows Edmonton’s second consecutive Stanley Cup Final loss to the Florida Panthers, a painful echo of last year’s Game 7 heartbreak.
According to NHL insider Frank Seravalli (The Daily Faceoff), the Oilers have thus far cooperated fully with league officials, providing all requested medical documentation and information. However, it’s unclear what specific concerns have triggered the league’s closer examination.
Kane, 32, did not appear in any regular-season games during the 2024–25 campaign due to a series of surgeries in September and January. He resumed skating with the team in February following the 4 Nations Faceoff and was ultimately cleared by team doctors to return in the playoffs.
Kane made his first postseason appearance in Game 2 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals against the Los Angeles Kings and went on to tally 12 points (6 goals, 6 assists) in the playoffs.
The league routinely monitors LTIR cases during the playoffs, especially when star players return just in time for postseason action — a loophole that critics argue allows cap circumvention. If wrongdoing is found, the Oilers could face fines, loss of draft picks, or other penalties.
This development adds to a growing list of woes for Edmonton, whose Stanley Cup drought now extends beyond three decades. It also comes amid public criticism from club legend Wayne Gretzky, who questioned the team’s direction following its latest Finals loss.
As the NHL’s investigation unfolds, the Oilers’ front office faces tough questions about not only their on-ice performance but their compliance with league regulations off the ice.
