The Edmonton Oilers signed forward Evander Kane, goaltender Jack Campbell and defenseman Brett Kulak to begin free agency on Wednesday.
Kane signed a four-year extension at $5.125 million per year. Campbell signed a five-year deal with an average annual value of $5 million. And Kulak signed a four-year contract worth $2.75 million per season.
Kane, 30, broke the news with a message on social media late Tuesday night: “I’m back.”
“A lot of my decision to stay in Edmonton was due to the opportunity I was given just 7 months ago, but also the chance to be apart [sic] of a championship team. I want to win and I believe that once we sign this deal we will be able to add the right pieces together with me to achieve that goal, a championship,” Kane wrote, signing off with his jersey number, 91.
Kane signed with Edmonton in January after the San Jose Sharks terminated the remainder of his seven-year, $49 million contract for violating COVID-19 protocols while in the American Hockey League. Kane challenged the Sharks’ decision by filing an appeal through the NHL Players’ Association.
Earlier last season, he was suspended 21 games by San Jose for submitting a false vaccine card.
Kane surpassed 20 goals for the eighth time in 13 NHL seasons, scoring 22 goals and 39 points in 43 games with Edmonton. Oilers general manager Ken Holland said last week that he is having daily conversations in an effort to re-sign Kane, although the team has allowed Kane to talk to other teams before the start of free agency.
“Evender wants to be in Edmonton; he wants to play for the Edmonton Oilers,” Holland told reporters Wednesday afternoon.
“He fitted in really well … everyone in the dressing room wanted him back. They made it very clear to me. They thought we were a much better team with Evander on the team.”
With Kane and Kulak back and the addition of Campbell, Holland thinks the Oilers can compete for a Stanley Cup after finishing in the Final Four last season.
While the general manager doesn’t expect goaltender Mike Smith to play this season, he is excited about the team’s goaltending situation. Holland expects Campbell to play around 50 games and Stuart Skinner to play around 30 games.
Campbell spent the last three seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Last year, the 30-year-old played a career-high 49 games and posted a 31-9-6 record with a .914 save percentage.
Kulak, a 28-year-old defenseman from the Edmonton area, was signed from the Montreal Canadiens midway through the season and had eight points in 18 regular season games.
Holland thinks Kulak has done well since the trade and said he is respected in the locker room.
“It’s hard to find defenders … it was important that he came back. You think at the end of the year, Duncan Keith is going to retire, and if you lose Brett Kulak, you’d be in a big hole. Today I’m very happy that Brett is back.”
His priorities have been met, but Hollande told reporters there is still work to be done.
“Now I have to sort out the rest of the list.”
With files from Alex Antoneshin and The Associated Press
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