Earlier this morning, the Department of Player Safety announced that San Jose Sharks forward Evander Kane would receive a hearing that for elbowing Winnipeg Jets’ defenseman Neal Pionk Friday. However, it didn’t take long for the DoPS to come to a decision, as they suspended Kane for three games for the incident.
The incident happened during the third period of Friday’s game between San Jose and Winnipeg. Pionk was in the corner and had just released the puck when Kane came up from behind him and slammed his elbow into Pionk’s head, knocking him to the ground (video here).
The suspension will put Kane into double digits for his career, which likely was a significant factor in why the league hit him with three games. The 28-year-old was actually dealing with the Department of Player Safety several times earlier this year. He was involved in another elbowing incident as he received a $5,000 fine after elbowing Washington’s Radko Gudas on Dec. 4. He was also suspended three games on Oct. 1 during a preseason game for making physical contact with an official. In previous years, he also received two games for boarding in 2014, one game for personal conduct in 2016, and one game for cross-checking in 2018.
The suspension doesn’t help a team that is trying to get past its problems. The team has already lost forward Tomas Hertl to a season-ending injury and the team then announced this morning that Erik Karlsson would miss the rest of the season due to a broken thumb. Three games without Kane won’t make things any easier. The forward has 21 goals and could reach 30 goals for a second straight season, one of the few bright spots this year in San Jose.
Evander Kane’s Twitter statement: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EQ2HcKLWAAwcC9q?format=jpg&name=4096×4096
Count on other players chiming in, as well, in the days to come. EK9 did deserve to be suspended, but the rage that we fans feel toward NHL DPS, is also being shown by the players, both past & present. It ain’t over, kids.
I agree the punishments are inconsistent but of Jane is arguing he shouldn’t have gotten a suspension he’s nuts. he should be lucky he didn’t get suspended for the first one. he tested DPS and lost
MoneyBallJustWorks – His argument is that the punishment is severely inconsistent. You know, like “dart board punishment” or, as stated before, “moving the goal posts.” Between referees screwing up games six ways to Sunday, then DPS handing out fines when suspensions are justified, or excessive/unreasonable suspensions, he and other players are past fed up with it. It’s one thing for you or others to disagree with a fellow PHR member’s opinion of given discipline, but look at the rash of players speaking out on it. It’s getting to the point that DPS is the one treading on thin ice.
I don’t disagree there is a lack of consistency. what I’m saying is the suspension he received was warranted based on the play and his history.
but yes DPS seems to arbitrarily make decisions and clearly the league has favs it sees as marketable that it treats differently.
@MoneyBallJustWorks _ I believe we both can agree…stunning, eh? Now, maybe DPS should just save themselves grief and consult us on fines & suspensions. Hey, it’s all but impossible to screw it up more than them.