Oilers' Evander Kane knows he got 'really lucky' after gruesome injury

Edmonton Oilers forward Evander Kane said he was "unlucky and then lucky" and is feeling thankful he should have a full recovery following emergency surgery on his left wrist.

Kane was injured Tuesday night during Edmonton's 3-2 win in Tampa Bay when he was accidentally cut by Lightning forward Pat Maroon's skate blade during the second period.

The 31-year-old Kane, who is expected to miss three-to-four months, spoke with reporters Friday for the first time since the incident.

"It’s great to be kinda back," Kane said with a smile. "I’m not on the ice but in the same morning routine.

"I’m hoping at least initially I can’t do much but I can be around the team as much as I can. That will definitely be helpful as the recovery process happens."

Kane recalled something hitting his wrist and knew as soon as he saw the amount of blood that he needed help immediately and rushed off of the ice.

"I pretty much cut everything down to the bone," he said. "I got really lucky they were able to reattach everything. They actually had to take some vein from a different part of my arm to help reattach the artery. … I got unlucky and then lucky. Thankful that I should have a full recovery."

"It was pretty painful maybe because they couldn’t give me anything initially," added Kane, who praised Oilers head athletic therapist TD Forss plus the trainers and medical staff for also keeping his family in the loop. "For the first 20 minutes, it wasn’t great but once I got into the ambulance and to the hospital for the surgery it was a little easier."

Kane, who re-signed with the Oilers during the summer on a four-year, $20.5 million deal, isn't really sure what his recovery plan will look like at the moment but said he will be seeing a doctor on Wednesday.

"Taking it day by day," said Kane, who has five goals and 13 points in 14 games this season. "Hopefully get things to heal as fast as possible and just come back once everything is 100 per cent."