Key player absent as Edmonton Oilers kick off team skates ahead of training camp

In less than a month, the NHL regular season will be underway. In Edmonton, the team will try to bounce back from a tough loss in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals against the Florida Panthers. They were only one goal away from achieving their dream of winning the Stanley Cup.

Players don't forget such a loss, and it'll likely help them reach a whole new level next season. While a few members of the team aren't in Edmonton anymore, such as Dylan Holloway, Philip Broberg, or Cody Ceci, and they've added new players like Jeff Skinner, Viktor Arvidsson, and Matthew Savoie, most of the team's core that lost Game 7 will return this season.

Unfortunately, one of their key players will likely miss some time this season, as a new report indicated he missed the veteran team skate ahead of the start of training camp.

Indeed, Evander Kane was nowhere to be found on the ice when his teammates practiced together.

Kane, 33, was seriously injured in the last playoffs, forcing him to miss the last five games of the Stanley Cup Finals. Currently dealing with a sports hernia, he could miss part of the season.

According to Jim Matheson, the longtime NHL reporter, Kane will likely fail his medical evaluation and should start discussing surgery in the coming weeks.

With the Oilers' clever moves this summer, Kane's absence won't be felt as much as it would've last season. The team has a lot of depth, which will help fans cope during Kane's recovery.

Source: Jim Matheson on X