Trent Frederic and Evander Kane, two key forwards dealing with injury concerns, might not be in the lineup just yet, if recent Edmonton Oilers practice formations are anything to go by.
Kane and Frederic both hit the ice for team practice, but not in a capacity that suggests they’re cleared for full contact or game readiness.
Instead of slotting into consistent roles, the two forwards were rotated sporadically—often practicing as extras or filtering in and out of various line combinations.
That pattern has raised eyebrows among analysts and beat reporters who’ve been closely tracking the Oilers’ forward group as the postseason approaches.
The sight of Kane, especially, not skating in his usual top-six role has led many to question how close he actually is to returning.
It didn’t look like a player ready to jump back into high-intensity playoff hockey,
one source said about Kane’s limited reps.
Frederic, meanwhile, hasn’t looked completely in sync either.
While he managed to participate in drills, his shifting role during practice appeared to mirror Kane’s—on the periphery, rather than locked into the main rotation.
Frederic seemed to be testing things out, but the fact that he was an extra tells you everything you need to know,
another observer noted.
This uncertainty puts added pressure on Edmonton’s depth and forces the coaching staff to continue leaning on healthy options while waiting for both players to be fully cleared.
The Oilers have not made any official announcements about either player’s timeline.
Still, practice deployments tend to say a lot in the absence of formal injury updates.
What remains clear is that until Kane and Frederic are taking regular shifts with consistent lines, their return remains questionable.
Fans hoping for a last-minute surprise may need to temper expectations—at least for now.
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