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Oilers Rule Out Veteran Forward for Game 1 vs. LA Kings

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Antonio Losada | Last updated Apr 21, 2025 8:20 AM ET

The Edmonton Oilers will begin their fourth straight playoff series against the Los Angeles Kings without one of their most impactful postseason performers.

Head coach Kris Knoblauch confirmed Sunday that Evander Kane will not play in Game 1 as he has not made enough progress to come off long-term injured reserve and hit the ice yet.

Kane, 33, missed the entire regular season following multiple surgeries, including a knee procedure in January. The veteran is coming off a 24-goal, 20-assist season through 77 games for the Oilers last year before appearing in 20 postseason games.

Despite practicing with the team during the second half of the season, Kane has not yet been cleared to return.

Per Kris Knoblauch:
- Ekholm, Kane and Stecher are all out for Game 1
- Frederic is day to day and is a possibility for Game 1
- Kulak is in Canmore, Alta., where his wife is due to give birth to their second child. He’s expected to rejoin the team in time for Game 1.
— Daniel Nugent-Bowman (@DNBsports) April 20, 2025

“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.

Knoblauch said the team had hoped Kane would be ready in time, but clarified on Sunday that he won’t be available to open the series.

In Kane’s absence, Edmonton will lean even heavily on its top forwards, including Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid.

Draisaitl has led the Oilers with 106 points this season while McDavid followed him closely with 100 of his own.

Knoblauch also confirmed that his team won't have either Mattias Ekholm or Troy Stecher available for Game 1 to use in the blue line.

The coach, however, left the door open for a Trent Frederic appearance. The Oilers traded for Frederic at the deadline, but he's still day-to-day entering Game 1 after reaggravating an ankle injury in early April after just one game with Edmonton.

Game 1 between the Kings and Oilers is set for Monday night in Los Angeles, the first time the Kings have had home-ice advantage over Edmonton in their four recent first-round matchups.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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