Oilers’ Evander Kane expected to miss five to six months after abdominal surgery

The Edmonton Oilers announced Monday forward Evander Kane underwent successful abdominal surgery last week in New York, and the recovery from the procedure is expected to take “a minimum of five to six months.”

The Oilers say his rehabilitation will take place in Edmonton under the supervision of the team’s medical staff.

The 33-year-old winger scored 24 goals and 20 assists for 44 points and 85 penalty minutes in 77 regular-season games with the Oilers last season. Since joining the club in 2021-22, Kane has 62 goals and 49 assists for 111 points.

Through 14 NHL seasons, Kane, a native of Vancouver, B.C., has 326 goals and 291 assists for 617 points and 1,186 penalty minutes in 930 career regular-season games with the Oilers, San Jose Sharks, Buffalo Sabres, Winnipeg Jets and Atlanta Thrashers.

Kane has twice scored 30 goals in a season, doing so with the Jets in 2011-12 and the Sharks in 2018-19.

Taken No. 4 overall by the Thrashers in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, Kane was a dominant junior player, scoring 48 goals and 48 assists for 96 points in just 61 regular-season games with the Vancouver Giants. He helped the Giants win the 2007 Memorial Cup, appearing in two games and recording an assist.

Internationally, Kane has represented Canada multiple times, winning gold at the 2009 World Junior Championships and gold at the 2008 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament. He also played in three consecutive World Championships between 2010 and 2012, scoring six goals and eight assists for 14 points in 21 games during that span.