Kane signed a four-year extension worth $5.125 million per year. Campbell signed a five-year deal worth an average annual value of $5 million. And Kulak signed a four-year contract worth $2.75 million per season. Kane, 30, made the news with a message on social media late Tuesday night: “I’m back.” “A big part of my decision to stay in Edmonton was because of the opportunity I was given just 7 months ago and also the opportunity to be apart. [sic] of a championship team. I want to win and I believe that after signing this deal we will be able to add the right pieces together with myself to achieve that goal, a championship,” Kane wrote, signing 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 a grievance through the NHL Players’ Association. Earlier last season, he was suspended by San Jose for 21 games for submitting a fake vaccine card. Kane reached 20 goals for the eighth time in 13 NHL seasons, posting 22 goals and 39 points in 43 games with Edmonton. Oilers general manager Ken Holland last week said he was in daily talks in an effort to re-sign Kane, despite the team allowing Kane to talk to other teams before the free agency period began. “Evander wants to be in Edmonton, he wants to play for the Edmonton Oilers,” Holland told reporters Wednesday afternoon. “He was a great fit…everybody in the locker room wanted him back. They made that very clear to me. They felt we were a much better team with Evander in the team.” With Kane and Kulak back and the addition of Campbell, Holland feels the Oilers can compete for the Stanley Cup after finishing in the Final Four last season. Although the general manager doesn’t expect goaltender Mike Smith to play this season, he is excited about the team’s goaltending situation. Holland predicts Campbell will play around 50 games and Stuart Skinner around 30 games. Campbell spent the last three seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Last year, the 30-year-old played in 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 midseason and had eight points in 18 regular-season games. Holland believed Kulak did well after 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 retires and if you lose Brett Kulak, you’d be in a big hole. I’m very happy today that Brett is back.” His priorities are complete, but Holland told reporters he still has more work to do. “Now I have to sort out the rest of the roster.” With files from Alex Antoneshyn and The Associated Press
