Oilers sign Evander Kane following NHL investigation into cross-border travel

Evander Kane agreed to terms on a one-year deal with the Edmonton Oilers, the NHL club announced Thursday night.

Earlier, the NHL cleared Kane after an investigation into his cross-border travel during the holiday break.

Contract details weren't divulged but a person with knowledge of the deal said it comes with a $750,000 US salary and $625,000 in bonuses. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the contract had not been announced.

Kane is expected to provide a boost for the Oilers, who who recently lost seven games in a row to fall out of playoff position in the Western Conference. But this was only possible after the NHL decided not to levy more discipline on the 30-year-old winger.

A law firm hired to conduct the investigation concluded there was not sufficient evidence to conclude Kane "knowingly made misrepresentations regarding his COVID-19 status or test results in connection with his international travel."

Earlier this month, the Sharks terminated the remainder of his $49 million, seven-year contract for violating virus protocol while in the American Hockey League. San Jose terminating the contract cost Kane about $22.9 million from the contract he signed in May 2018. The NHL Players' Association filed a grievance on his behalf contesting the grounds of the termination.

Despite those problems and going through three NHL organizations, there was plenty of interest in Kane, who is a two-time 30-goal scorer and has surpassed 20 in a season five other times. He had 2 goals and 27 assists for 49 points in 56 games last year with San Jose.

In a 12-year NHL career spent with the Atlanta Thrashers/Winnipeg Jets franchise (2009-15), the Buffalo Sabres (2015-18) and San Jose, Kane has scored 264 goals and added 242 assists over 769 games.