The NHL is reportedly continuing its investigation into the Edmonton Oilers' use of the Long-Term Injured Reserve (LTIR) regarding forward Evander Kane's return to the lineup for the 2025 playoffs, despite Kane spending the entire regular season on LTIR.

Kane underwent surgery in September 2024 to address multiple issues, including hip adductor muscles, abdominal muscles, and two hernias. The expected recovery timeline would have kept him out of the lineup until late March 2025. In January 2025, Kane underwent another surgery on his knee, further delaying his return. The Oilers did not utilize the cap space created by Kane's LTIR placement until the trade deadline. Kane was eventually cleared to play in Game 2 of the Oilers' first-round playoff series against the Los Angeles Kings.

The NHL's scrutiny of Kane's LTIR usage and swift return to playoff action raises questions. It is standard practice for the NHL to examine medical reports when a player returns from LTIR for the playoffs. The league may require more information to ensure that the Oilers complied with the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). The Oilers have reportedly complied with all of the NHL's requests thus far. While the investigation continues, it remains unclear what specific issues the NHL has found, if any.

Several other teams have also strategically used the LTIR to their advantage, including the Vegas Golden Knights with Mark Stone and the Tampa Bay Lightning with Nikita Kucherov. These players were placed on LTIR during the regular season and then returned for the playoffs, circumventing the salary cap. However, no team has ever been penalized for LTIR usage in the salary-cap era.

If the NHL determines that the Oilers violated the CBA, they could face retroactive punishment. It remains uncertain what a potential penalty would entail. The investigation is unusual because the league typically concludes these inquiries during the postseason.

One potential issue the league might be examining is the timing of Kane's second surgery. The Oilers waited until late in Kane's recovery from his initial surgery to address the knee issue. This decision could raise questions about whether the timing was strategic to maximize LTIR benefits. It was reported that the surgery was to remove a "congenital tumor-like growth." The league could be questioning why the Oilers chose that specific window to have Kane undergo surgery, particularly so late in his recovery from another procedure.

The situation has sparked outrage among hockey fans, with some accusing the NHL of bias against Canadian teams. Some fans argue that the Oilers are being unfairly targeted, while others point to the perceived advantage the team gained by having Kane return for the playoffs after being on LTIR for the entire regular season.

Kane has one year remaining on his contract with a $5.13 million cap hit. The Oilers reportedly explored trading Kane before the 2025 trade deadline and may do so again this offseason. Kane recorded six goals and six assists in 21 playoff games.