[News] NHL investigating whether Oilers used Kane LTIR cap relief in compliance with CBA

[SutterBrother]

Amazing they decide to do this now to the Oilers after so many other teams did it.

Maybe this isn't the darkest timeline?

[CalgaryFan1988]

I'd say the penalty should be losing their first rounder but 2027 is a long time away.

[Macindoc]

Originally Posted by Jason14h

Well I don’t think they can / would have any justification to stop him from playing in playoffs . There isn’t a playoff cap , etc

The Union would be all over the NHL if they tried that

If they had evidence of cap circumvention, the NHL could have voided the Frederic and Walman acquisitions, or made them ineligible to play for the Oilers in the post-season, just like post-deadline acquisitions (basically saying that they weren't eligible to play until Edmonton got Kane properly off the books, which would have required that he be traded before the deadline).

And yes, Kane could have a valid grievance that Edmonton intentionally kept him out of the lineup longer that was necessary, which could have an adverse effect on his ability to get another NHL contract.

If the Oilers intentionally delayed Kane's treatment to keep him off the books all season, not only are they unethical, but there's no way that Frederic, Walman, and Kane should have all been eligible to play.

[curves2000]

I have a feeling Seravalli might just be grasping at some straws here with some speculation with an ounce of truth to it.

That being said, Kane did have several key off-season surgeries. I am sure timing of the surgeries played a role in cap room/compliance but out of all the offenders in recent memory, is Edmonton really the one that would really require serious investigations and penalties?

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by CalgaryFan1988

I'd say the penalty should be losing their first rounder but 2027 is a long time away.

Bettman - "We investigated the Kane Situation, and the Oilers did cheat, and after discussions with McDavid's ag . . . . err a committee of league disciplinarians, that due to the lack of Oilers top level draft picks to take away. That the fitting punishment is to give Connor McDavid UFA rights immediately. That is our ruling. So say we all . . . this is the way . . . thank you"

[Jason14h]

Weren’t there rumors Kane wanted to play earlier / before season ended ?

Kane may not be happy he was “forced” to sit out a full season - especially if the Oilers buy him out - and potentially hurt his future career earnings

The only way I ever see a team getting dinger for this is if the hurt player files a grievance

[iggy_oi]

Originally Posted by Jason14h

I wonder if Kane filled a grievance

Seemed they were forcing him to stay out which doesn’t help his career going forward

Originally Posted by Jason14h

Well I don’t think they can / would have any justification to stop him from playing in playoffs . There isn’t a playoff cap , etc

The Union would be all over the NHL if they tried that

I can’t imagine any scenario where either of the decision to allow him to play or the subsequent decision by the NHL to investigate the matter has anything to do with a grievance filed by Kane or the PA.

[Jason14h]

Originally Posted by iggy_oi

I can’t imagine any scenario where either of the decision to allow him to play or the subsequent decision by the NHL to investigate the matter has anything to do with a grievance filed by Kane or the PA.

Why ?

What else could trigger it

Clearly a doctor signed off that he’s “hurt”

So the only way they can prove / have circumvention is if the doctor admits he lied (that isn’t happening) or Kane says he was healthy enough to play and the team held him out

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

Oilers fans in absolute victim mode on social media.

This, the Frederic contract, and the Stanley Cup loss... The last 24 hours have been unreal for a hater

Originally Posted by Jason14h

Weren’t there rumors Kane wanted to play earlier / before season ended ?

Kane may not be happy he was “forced” to sit out a full season - especially if the Oilers buy him out - and potentially hurt his future career earnings

The only way I ever see a team getting dinger for this is if the hurt player files a grievance

They'll just force him to retire and hand him a front office job. Whats Duncan Keith even doing these days?

[dustygoon]

Is it me or is Stan Bowman showing again he will do anything to win?

[Paulie Walnuts]

Originally Posted by dustygoon

Is it me or is Stan Bowman showing again he will do anything to win?

LTIR talk began right after the finals. Just like Smith after the WCF in 23 with Keith. Scummy organization too to bottom.

[Locke]

They'll shave off some of those 'Oilers Charitable Foundation' slush fund dollars, they're good at that, and then give Kane a job in sub-basement B.

His duties will include..."shutting up."

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Just spitballing without knowing the full details but I imagine what the NHL is looking is the 2nd surgery that "extended" how long Kane is out until the playoffs.

Questions like if could the 2nd surgery have done earlier to coincide with the recovery of the 1st surgery? And therefore Kane would have recovered before the playoffs and the Oilers couldn't use the LTIR relief for Frederic and Walman

I also recall that just before the playoffs, there was some discussion about the league cracking down on teams having a player on LTIR and then being ready for game 1 of the playoffs. The Oilers probably thought they were being sneaky by keeping him out until game 2, but really is just makes it look more obvious that they were trying to pull a fast one.

[Tacoman]

While they’re at it, maybe take a gander at the Duncan Keith and Mike Smith cap circumvention cases. Cheaters.

[Jiri Hrdina]

There were some rumors that Kane wanted to come back and start playing and the Oilers wouldn't allow it.
The NHL should just ask Kane and I bet that he will happily throw the team under the bus and confirm he was healthy enough to play.

The NHL can then fine the Oilers a future first round pick, which would benefit an entire year of players.

If i was a team that lost out to them in the playoffs I woudl sure be pissed though.

[iggy_oi]

Originally Posted by Jason14h

Why ?

What else could trigger it

Maybe another owner or GM(hopefully Conroy) making a complaint?

Or the league was investigating it during the playoffs since they only got all of his latest medical information shortly before and waited until after the playoffs were done to announce the investigation so to not surround the playoffs with negative news headlines?

Clearly a doctor signed off that he’s “hurt”

So the only way they can prove / have circumvention is if the doctor admits he lied (that isn’t happening) or Kane says he was healthy enough to play and the team held him out

Kane has a year left on his contract. Even if he sat out say hypothetically a month longer than he should have, any potential loss in future earning potential on his next contract do to the negative effects that time off has on his performance next season would in my opinion be peanuts compared to the potential loss from other GMs not wanting to sign him as a result of him throwing his previous team under the bus.

It’s also unlikely that the PA is going to be up in arms about something that saw more players get paid this season. Not to mention the fact that the terrible optics of filing a grievance that could potentially result in the league imposing cap penalties on a team which would lead to less money going to players is enough reason alone for the PA not to file a grievance over it.

[fotze2]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Weird timing but OK

It’s not weird timing at all, it’s fataing awesome timing.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

There were some rumors that Kane wanted to come back and start playing and the Oilers wouldn't allow it.
The NHL should just ask Kane and I bet that he will happily throw the team under the bus and confirm he was healthy enough to play.

The NHL can then fine the Oilers a future first round pick, which would benefit an entire year of players.

If i was a team that lost out to them in the playoffs I woudl sure be pissed though.

A 1st and deducted his cap hit.

[Jason14h]

Originally Posted by iggy_oi

Maybe another owner or GM(hopefully Conroy) making a complaint?

Or the league was investigating it during the playoffs since they only got all of his latest medical information shortly before and waited until after the playoffs were done to announce the investigation so to not surround the playoffs with negative news headlines?



Kane has a year left on his contract. Even if he sat out say hypothetically a month longer than he should have, any potential loss in future earning potential on his next contract do to the negative effects that time off has on his performance next season would in my opinion be peanuts compared to the potential loss from other GMs not wanting to sign him as a result of him throwing his previous team under the bus.

It’s also unlikely that the PA is going to be up in arms about something that saw more players get paid this season. Not to mention the fact that the terrible optics of filing a grievance that could potentially result in the league imposing cap penalties on a team which would lead to less money going to players is enough reason alone for the PA not to file a grievance over it.

Oilers are going to buy Kane out is my thought ! Then it will all make sense that he’s the “leak” since he’s mad he didn’t get to play and build UFA value

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Jason14h

Clearly a doctor signed off that he’s “hurt”

What's a doctor going to say if a player says they feel pain? It seems like it would be a medically difficult thing to prove in some cases. I would like to think a doctor wouldn't lie about a player's physical condition based on empirical information because their reputation would be on the line if another doctor reviewed the information and they were caught. I could see a doctor saying in their report that the scans and x-rays indicated they are healed, but that the individual still expressed discomfort and leave it up to the player, coach, and GM to decide if they were ready.

I think the Kucherov situation was as blatant as could be. During the whole offseason, all the discussion around Tampa was how they were going to get under the cap with no talk of Kucherov needing surgery. Then just before camp it was announced that he would need surgery as if they had no indication before and couldn't do it earlier. Then a couple of weeks before the playoffs someone was at a Tampa practice and took a video of Kucherov just flying out there. After the video was posted online, Tampa closed their practices to the public.

Maybe because it was a new thing at the time, the NHL decided not to pursue it, which was probably a mistake.