Photo: Christian Petersen/Getty Images

According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, the Edmonton Oilers signed unrestricted free agent left-wing Evander Kane to a one-year, $2.1 million contract. The Washington Capitals were the other team that was in the running for the 30-year-old’s services.

The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun stated sources confirm that the Capitals spoke to Kane’s camp but never made a contract offer.

Kane has 264 goals and 506 points in 769 career regular-season game with the Sharks, Buffalo Sabres, and Winnipeg Jets/Atlanta Thrashers but comes with some major off-ice issues. The Sharks terminated his contract after Kane travelled to Vancouver with the AHL’s San Jose Barracuda while positive for COVID-19 despite the fact that he led the team in goals (22), assists (27), and points (49) in 56 games last season.

The NHL suspended Kane, who has hit the 20-goal mark seven times in his 11-season NHL career and 40-point mark eight, for 21 games after crossing the United States-Canada border while COVID-19 positive. There is hope that he will play on Saturday at the Montreal Canadiens, according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman.

Kane’s contract includes a full no-movement clause and he can become an unrestricted free agent on July 17.

This appears like a pure desperation move from the Oilers, who are just 4-11-2 since December 3 (.294 points percentage is better than just the Montreal Canadiens) after a 16-5-0 start to the season. Centers Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl have at least 30 points more than any other player on the team, which ranks 11th in goals-per-game (3.24) and second on the power-play (29.6).

Kane ranked fourth on the Sharks in power-play ice time (2:47 per game) last season.

Kane and the Oilers are scheduled to visit the Capitals on Wednesday. They will also play on Wednesday, March 9 at Rogers Place in Edmonton.

By Harrison Brown