Edmonton Oilers veteran forward Evander Kane is breaking his silence ahead of his return to the lineup for the start of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Edmonton Oilers veteran forward Evander Kane has not played once this year after undergoing surgery to repair his hip adductor muscles, along with a pair of hernias and torn lower abdominal muscles. And while his status for the year remained in doubt, he's been working his way back towards a return to the ice and appears poised to potentially return to the lineup for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Speaking with media members, Kane <a href='https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/oilers-evander-kane-feels-ready-as-he-nears-much-anticipated-return/' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>said that he's feeling confident</a> and much better physically. Just going off last year ... how I felt that year and what I was able to do, that gives me confidence with how I feel now. I feel a lot more confident coming back this year, at this time, being in shape and being ready. Feeling as good as I possibly can for when I come back....If you're comparing how I feel now to last year, I'm ready to go. Kane, who has 617 career points, played in 77 games last year with the Oilers and had 44 points (24G, 20A). He explained that he intentionally had his surgeries during the offseason so that he could rehabilitate during the year - and that he's happy with the results so far. One of the things I want to make sure of is that I don't end up back on an operating table again. That's why I wanted to go through that in the summer ... to go through this rehab year with. And I'm really happy with how everything's gone with my recovery and I'm feeling really good on the ice. The Oilers will face the Los Angeles Kings in the opening round of the postseason for the 4th straight year, but the Kings have home ice advantage this time around.