BLOG: Kane a key piece of the Oilers playoff core

EDMONTON, AB - Evander Kane's Oilers performance has his teammates ready for the encore.
The winger tied himself to the Blue & Orange for the next four seasons the night before NHL Free Agency began, much to the delight of those who get to play with him.
"To have him back into the fold is really exciting. It was kind of touch and go there for a little bit, but to have him back is exciting for the team and me personally. I really enjoyed playing with him," Connor McDavid said Monday at the Zach Hyman Celebrity Golf Classic in Toronto. "He does a lot for us on the ice. He brings a lot of elements to his game that we've been looking for, for a long time in a top-six role. He's a big body, plays physical, and brings a bit of emotion and swagger. He's a good fit."
The return of Kane has a lot of Oilers players excited about the prospects of next season, and it's not hard to see why. Prior to Kane's arrival, the Oilers were 21-16-2 and had only won five of their previous 18 games. After his Jan. 28 signing, the Oilers went 28-11-4 on their way to their second 100-point season in 35 years, with the 104-point output being the best mark by any Oilers team since 1987.

Although Kane had to adjust to a new squad and had not played a professional game in over eight months, the power winger still registered 39 points (22G, 17A) in just 43 games.
"Everybody saw his importance and what he's able to do on the ice. Bringing a guy like that back who is able to contribute like he does is extremely important," Zach Hyman said about Kane's impact.
Although the regular-season performance was impressive, Kane's follow-up was even better. The 30-year-old had entered the post-season with just six career playoff goals in 29 games. By the time the Oilers run ended, Kane would more than double his career totals -- tying Colorado's Nathan MacKinnon for the post-season goal lead with 13 in only 15 games, including a pair of hat tricks.
"He stepped in and played some great hockey for us. He's another one of those really great competitors that when the time was big he scored some big goals for us to extend our playoff run. It's great to have him back," Darnell Nurse said. "His ability to show up every day and work, he really fit in well with our group. It's really exciting to have him back for a longer period and I hope he feels the same way."

Now with a four-year deal in tow and a taste of playoff action, the Oilers are hoping that Kane can be another piece of a core hoping to reach loftier heights next season.
"We worked really hard to put ourselves in the final four and there's still a whole other level to go. It was an eye-opener for our group," McDavid said about the post-season run. "To see the level that Colorado, Tampa, and these types of teams performed at. It was a whole other gear we have to get to."
"I think if you get complacent and say we've been there once we can get there again you fall into a hole and it's dangerous," Nurse added. "We're hungry to get back we know there's a whole other level of work we need to get there."

The NHL off-season can always bring a shuffle of the roster. Although the Oilers will be without the services of Duncan Keith following his retirement in July, with the re-signing of Kane and defenceman Brett Kulak, the Oilers are currently bringing back largely the same roster that took the team to the Western Conference Final.
Now with a full season of Kane, Kulak, and Head Coach Jay Woodcroft on the horizon, there is a lot of optimism around what this core is capable of next season. The vote of confidence in that core by General Manager and President of Hockey Operations Ken Holland was definitely felt by those in the locker room.
"He's believed in our group and the players we have and it showed through the season last year," Nurse said. "For him to not blow it up and just tinker around adding a few pieces, you just want to go out there and play for him. It will be good to go out there and just try and prove ourselves again."