8:16 pm: The team has now made the deal official — Evander Kane is an Edmonton Oiler. The team has yet to confirm the official details of the contract.
4:25 pm: The Edmonton Oilers are expected to sign Evander Kane to a one-year contract, following the conclusion of the NHL’s latest investigation. According to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet, the free agent forward will now earn a prorated league minimum salary of $750K, plus a signing bonus of $625K. It will also include a full no-movement clause. Because the deal is being signed partway through the season, Kane’s cap hit will be just over $2.1MM and he will earn a total of $970K.
Kane, 30, was issued a 21-game suspension at the start of the season for a breach of COVID protocols and providing a false vaccination card. When that suspension ended, he was not welcomed back to the Sharks roster, but placed on waivers in order to send him to the minor leagues. Kane played in five games for the San Jose Barracuda, recording eight points, until another COVID-related transgression resulted in his contract being terminated.
The league conducted an additional investigation into his actions in the minor leagues. They released the following:
The report prepared in connection with the investigation, which was conducted by Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler LLP, concluded that there was insufficient evidence to “conclusively find that Mr. Kane knowingly made misrepresentations regarding his COVID-19 status or test results in connection with his international travel.”
As a result, the League has determined not to pursue any additional League-imposed discipline against Kane at the current time.
That means he was free to join any team in the NHL and play immediately, a condition the Oilers needed in order to sign him today. Edmonton was immediately linked to Kane when he became a free agent, with general manager Ken Holland quickly confirming that he had been in touch with agent Dan Milstein. While the Washington Capitals were linked to Kane in recent days, the Oilers always seemed like the frontrunner to land his services–services which are desperately required as the team tries to get back into the Pacific Division playoff picture.
There’s no doubt that Kane is a force on the ice. Over his 769 career regular season games, the 6’2″ forward has racked up 264 goals and 506 points, including an outstanding 22-goal, 49-point campaign in last year’s shortened season. He’s also twice led the league in penalty minutes, delivered more than 1,700 hits and averaged close to 19 minutes a game throughout his long career.
That is a heck of a player to plug in beside Connor McDavid or Leon Draisaitl (or both) for the stretch run, especially at such a low cost. But there is risk, obviously, given his history of off-ice issues. Just last offseason, Kane was involved in three different investigations, as allegations of gambling on NHL games, domestic abuse, and COVID-related infractions all surfaced. Though he was cleared of the first two, the NHL came down hard for the third, handing out the 21-game ban that effectively ended his time with the Sharks. When the suspension was announced, Kane released a statement through the NHLPA:
I would like to apologize to my teammates, the San Jose Sharks organization and all Sharks fans for violating the NHL COVID protocols. I made a mistake, one I sincerely regret and take responsibility for. During my suspension, I will continue to participate in counseling to help me make better decisions in the future. When my suspension is over, I plan to return to the ice with great effort, determination and love for the game of hockey.
Just two months later though, he allegedly broke protocols again by traveling to Vancouver during a period of mandatory isolation following a positive COVID result. The NHLPA has filed a grievance on Kane’s behalf after the Sharks used this latest breach to terminate his contract, one which now seems to have merit based on the findings of the NHL’s latest investigation.
For now, Kane joins the Oilers on a short-term deal once again looking to prove he can be a reliable, valuable member of an NHL organization. He will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
It’s unfortunate, but Kane has brought his own world crashing down and deserves no sympathy. Sometimes an ass**** is just an ass****. A confused franchise like Edmonton deserves a confused distraction like Kane.
A confused franchise …lol
This investigation into a hockey player travelling and wether he got permission is taking longer than the one into Epsteins murder. Longer than investigating the BS 9/11 story. The NHL is a fucking joke.
What I don’t understand is how the league can support the Sharks and say they had grounds for contract termination… but they hadn’t even investigated the incident??
Doesn’t add up.
The league and Sharks were looking for any excuse. As you noted, they didn’t actually investigate before they said “yeah, OK, that will work, go for it.”
Actually, come to think of it, if Kane crossed the border without proper documentation…isn’t that Canada’s job to investigate and punish, not the NHL?
Not to defend Kane, who is a POS, but if only they had scrutinized Jake Virtanen even 2% as much as Kane.
The Canada thing I hadn’t thought about, but I bet there’s language in the contract or CBA that states “ thou shall follow all local state government regulation” blah blah
Two other thoughts I had were:
1. I suspect that the NHLPA and the NHL are negotiating over the grievance that was filed on behalf of Kane and what’s really going on here.
2. If he’s gonna be suspended, should someone sign him now and get that suspension underway?… like why wait until you know what the length is… (unless a suspended player’s cap hit still counts)
Suspended players cap counts. And his time suspended games don’t trigger until he has a contract.
Just dawned on me that Kane’s Canadian, so he may not have actually violated any rules by entering the country.
They have to check in with the Mussolini of Mar-a-Lago to get his blessings
These dumb comments you plug in everywhere are hilarious :/
Hey Billy, would it be racist if he was white?
Not if it’s true. Content of character not color of skin.
@Al Hirschen – You need only look to a basement in Delaware to find the Mussolini you seek.
Kane’s contract termination should be enough punishment and a suspension should not be pushed on top of that. It seems like he should get some money each year for like 8-10 yrs though, like Mike Richards….say $1.25 M x 10????
Problem is he owes like 70million in gambling debt so he’s going to want (need) more than that to keep both his kneecaps!
Hes listed as having 1.5 million in gambling debt. Not 70 lol (sept 17, 2021)
Close.
“In January, the hockey player filed for bankruptcy listing $10.2 million in assets and $26.8 million in debts”
Still a far cry from 70 million
Kane would most certainly help most teams, especially the Oil. But this guy is the epitome of a locker room cancer, distraction. Once he gets comfortable in Edmonton and takes over the room, who’s going to reign him in or call him out? MacDavid? Nuge? Leon? Coach? Oil just can’t seem to stop tires from burning, and now they may throw more tires into the fire?
The Oilers have a garbage room, as is.
Adding an elite winger to McDavid’s line and trying to 8-7 is their best current path given they have no D, no G and inept management.
yea I don’t see this working. A locker room full of problems let’s bring in a high profile problem.
Question for anyone who has followed a team of with Kane on it.
How is he with his teammates? I understand he gets into trouble in his personal life. But is he also a problem in the locker room or is he okay?
Ask Dustin Byfuglien and the Winnipeg Jets how they felt about Kane in the lockerroom.
Ive watched every sharks game and i personally dont believe he was that big of a distraction and he was one of if not the best player for them on the ice.
His teammates in San Jose told management after last season that they didn’t want to play with Kane. His teammates in Winnipeg wanted him out of the locker room at the end of his tenure there. It’s a shame really because Kane is a very talented hockey player. He just can’t seem to get along with others.
What you “personally believe” is beside the point. You can believe in flying space monkeys, the Big Lie, and whether George Soros is influencing elections with Jewish orbital space lasers, if that’s what floats your boat. As far as the POV of San Jose’s locker room goes, you don’t get a vote.
So many smart people here seem to be experts on the Oilers locker room.
aw this guy has to brown-nose Kane now that is going to wear the manly blue and orange.
I think this rates up there with the worst Ken Holland decision on players…it’s more of a high risk signing..
I assume Kane is self aware enough to be on his best behaviour for a while – at least for the rest of this season. If he can get over that low bar, he would be a valuable addition for Edmonton.
I dont get why you sign him for than the league minimum. doesnt sound like there were any other suitors. personally, i dont think damage to a locker room stays after the issue is gone in more cases, but that cap hit makes jettisoning him much harder.
He also got a NMC so they can’t even jettison him if it doesn’t work out.
Same reason you trade real assets for Kieth without the hawks retaining salary
So, first the NHL gives the Sharks the green light to dump Kane and then only afterwards, they investigate and clear him.
Good luck to the Sharks attorney in that arbitration hearing.
If Kane gets his full Sharks money and his new contracts going forward…his creditors might actually get paid.
Holland knows Kane’s agent, Dan Millstein, very well from his time in Detroit as he was also Pavel Datsyk’s agent. Guess he owed him a favor or Millstein has some unflattering pictures of Holland stashed away somewhere
The 18 wheeler is heading off the cliff and the GM’s answer is to trade for the most controversial player in the NHL? Okay!
Not that anyone may have taken him but it’s interesting that he got a full no movement
It’s so they can’t send him to Bakersfield. He wants to stay in the show.
Cup run cometh.
Leave it to Ken Holland to have no ethics and sign this bum. Will likely blow up it Edmonton’s face.
First time?
-sincerely a red wings fan
Kenny must be feeing the heat
Kenny is likely feeling the idiocy of the Oilers demented fanbase and copying the example of Marc Bergevin in trying to expedite his own firing. Eventually, even an immortal decides “dealing with these idiots everyday isn’t worth it”. That’s why we’ll never, ever, EVER see another Canadian Stanley Cup champ. The fans prevent it from ever getting that far
NMC? Why and how and what the flying F*** ?
Isn’t this reserved for…honourable players?
It’s reserved for anyone who can talk a GM into it. I’m thinking either this is Holland showing his desperation, or HockeyDude77 called it.
see my previous post. It’s so he can’t be sent down to Bakersfield. He wants as long as possible to show his ability at the NHL level, not in the AHL.
I love how SJ gets to wipe his salary off the books and terminate his contract ( and don’t get me wrong, Kane is an idiot) when the NHL finished their investigation and said there was no proof that he violated any Covid protocols when he travelled to Vancouver. So how is it that San Jose is not being forced to buy him out to get rid him and they are dinged on their cap? Are they basing it on when Kane faked his Vaccine card and was suspended, or his travel back home? Vancouver bought out Virtanen when he was suspected of sexual assault, and are paying his cap this year & next….did they not have the same option of terminating his contract, so they don’t have a scum bag counting against their cap? I also wonder if they can retroactively reverse this since he has now been officially charged….you know when they retroactively screwed us with Luongo’s cap hit.
King Jawa, I’m thinking that on some level the owners/league are fine with this. How many owners would love to be ABLE to just revoke contracts as long as they’ve got a solid enough sounding reason?
WHAT??? Then why is LA still paying Mike Richards and have some cap hit till 26-27!!!!!!!
Probably because that was part of the terms of the settlement with the union. Don’t presume that the result of this grievance won’t be a similar settlement that will see San Jose on the hook for a good while.
Wow lol, hope that works out for you guys! Maybe should’ve thought about getting a goaltender!
Its not their goaltending. it’s their team defensive systems that are lacking. Adding a potentially star scoring forward won’t help with defensive systems until the coaches and management are replaced.
I’m fine with Oilers taking a shot on him. His cap hit is significantly reduced from what it would be based on his on ice production. The fact is that he is well worth the money. Further, he should be able to keep himself out of trouble for 6 months.
Buy low is usually a good strategy.
Kassian was supposed to be done when they traded for him. He has been pretty inconsistent on the ice, but has been good off the ice.
The Oilers have a long history of taking second chances on players. Craig McTavish was convicted of Vehicular Homicide before they traded for him. Not all have worked out on the ice, but I cant recall any that went real bad off the ice.
Good luck Evander