BLOG: Kane raring to return just 10 weeks following scary wrist injury

EDMONTON, AB - The countdown to Kane o'clock appears to be well into its final moments.
After missing the last 31 games and steadily ramping up his recovery from a cut wrist sustained back on Nov. 8 against the Tampa Bay Lightning, winger Evander Kane skated in full at Monday's practice and awaits the final confirmation from team doctors later this afternoon to make his return to the lineup during Edmonton's two-game homestand.
Kane's return for Edmonton could come as early as Tuesday night at Rogers Place, where the Oilers will welcome the Seattle Kraken for a pivotal Pacific Division clash near the midway point of the regular season.
"I think we're like nine-and-a-half weeks or just over that right now," Kane said of his recovery timeline. "The original time was anywhere between three and four months, so we'll see what the doctors say."
"I feel good right now. I was itching to get back three-and-a-half weeks ago. It's been a lot of skating and a lot of practice, and hopefully, we can get some good news soon here."

The 31-year-old practiced on a line with Ryan McLeod and Warren Foegele at Monday's skate and is chomping at the bit to return to action, saying if this was the Stanley Cup Playoffs right now, he would've found a way to work his way back into the lineup a long time ago.
But with an injury as scary and shocking as his was back in November during the second period of a 3-2 win over the Lightning, both Kane and the Oilers were keen to slow play his recovery to make sure there was plenty of recovery time for the forward to heal so he could have the effect on the results that Oil Country had become accustomed to with him in the lineup.
"Yeah, I've felt like that for a while now. You just try to let the body rest and heal and do your treatments, and I'm just waiting," Kane said.
"Obviously it's something you don't want to play around with and want to make sure it is strong, and right now, I feel that way."
Despite the wrist feeling strong after a 10-week recovery that still exceeds some of the most optimistic three-to-four-month timelines, there are still some struggles Kane expects in the coming days, weeks and months are part of coming back from an injury as challenging as his.
"I don't know if it's ever going to be full strength, at least this season, but I feel it's as good as it's going to be for a decent stretch of time here," Kane said. "I think the shooting is where it needs to be successful. I can't really give you a gauge.
"Is it 100 percent? No, but I'm coming back with no excuses when I do come back."

Kane gave his assurance that, with the exception to a few new protective pieces of gear, he still expects to be the same player and have the same impact he's had over the last calendar year that allowed him to score 40 goals and record 69 points in 72 regular-season and playoff games for the Blue & Orange.
"I got some extra layers of protection and some extra precautions with my equipment," he said. "Obviously never want to see that happen, don't want to happen again, so yeah, it's kind of a freak accident. It's something that you don't see a whole lot of, but my mindset doesn't change in terms of my play."