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Evander Kane will miss the start of this season for the Edmonton Oilers and will have sports hernia surgery this week.

The 33-year-old forward had 44 points (24 goals, 20 assists) in 77 regular-season games and eight points (four goals, four assists) in 20 Stanley Cup Playoff games last season.

Edmonton reached Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final, a 2-1 loss to the Florida Panthers. Kane missed the last five games of the best-of-7 series because of a sports hernia.

“As we’ve said, he’s been dealing with an issue with his hip and we’re just going through a process right now to see what we need to do on that front,” Oilers CEO and president Jeff Jackson said July 1. “He’s getting the best care he can get on the advice from our doctors, and we’re going to consult with both Evander and his agent, Dan Milstein, to make sure that we’re getting second opinions and things like that, so that’s sort of where it’s at.

“Nothing’s planned as of yet beyond that, so first is a consultation with a specialist. He’s on our roster and on our (salary) cap and we’ve got to take care of his health first and foremost to make sure he’s healthy.”

Edmonton added forward depth by signing forwards Viktor Arvidsson (two years, $4 million average annual value) and Jeff Skinner (one year, $3 million) as unrestricted free agents July 1.

Selected by the Atlanta Thrashers with the No. 4 pick in the 2009 NHL Draft, Kane has 617 points (326 goals, 291 assists) in 930 regular-season games with the Thrashers, Winnipeg Jets, Buffalo Sabres, San Jose Sharks and Oilers, and 43 points (26 goals, 17 assists) in 76 playoff games.