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NHL/NHLPA Pause Cross-Border Travel, Issue Updates On Season And Olympics

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The NHL and NHLPA released a joint statement today that the league will postpone any games that require cross-border travel through the holiday break. The 12 postponed games are as follows:

Canadiens @ Islanders (12/20), Ducks @ Oilers (12/20), Blues @ Senators (12/21), Canucks @ Sharks (12/21), Canadiens @ Rangers (12/22), Jets @ Stars (12/22), Oilers @ Kings (12/22), Blues @ Maple Leafs (12/23), Hurricanes @ Senators (12/23), Canadiens @ Devils (12/23), Ducks @ Canucks (12/23), Oilers @ Sharks (12/23)

Adding on these 12 games, there are now 39 games that the league has postponed this year. As instances pop up of players stuck on the wrong side of the border and potentially unable to get home for the holidays, the pause comes now to prevent any future situations like this from occurring.

However, the NHL and NHLPA in today’s statement remained with their stance today against placing a pause on the entire regular-season schedule. The league will continue to monitor COVID outbreaks on teams on a case-by-case basis, stating that they “will be monitoring not only the number and pattern of positive COVID results but also the depth of Club line-ups so as to ensure both the health and safety of the Players and the integrity of League competition.”

The two parties also gave an update on the potential of Olympic participation, stating they’ll reach a final determination within the coming days. They’re “actively discussing the matter” and commit to remaining flexible. The NHL has until January 10, 2022, to opt out of the Olympics without incurring a financial penalty. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman speculates that an “Olympics without NHL players seems to be a reality,” but doesn’t expect a formal announcement for a few days.

Kevin Labanc To Undergo Surgery

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The San Jose Sharks have been without Kevin Labanc since he left last week’s game against the Dallas Stars in the first period, and it appears as though they will be without him for a considerable amount of time moving forward. Sharks’ head coach Bob Boughner told reporters including Curtis Pashelka of the Mercury News that Labanc will undergo surgery to repair a dislocated shoulder.

The 26-year-old forward has been a disappointment for much of this season, registering just three goals and six points in 21 games so far. His minutes have been slashed and Boughner even made him a healthy scratch recently, telling the media that Labanc “needs to be better.” He does, if he’s going to live up to the $4.725MM cap hit that he carries, but it won’t be now as a shoulder surgery like this is usually comes with a months-long recovery timeline.

In just the second season of a four-year, $18.9MM contract he signed in 2020, Labanc hasn’t come close to the 17-goal, 56-point season he registered in 2018-19. Last year he potted just 12 goals in 55 games, not exactly the development the Sharks were expecting when they locked him up long-term. Now with this injury, 2021-22 looks like it will be an extremely disappointing season as well, not exactly the ideal situation when the contract is back-loaded, and will see his salary jump to $5.875MM for next year.

San Jose obviously does have an in-house replacement for Labanc in Evander Kane, though it still seems as though he won’t be putting on a Sharks jersey anytime soon.

Joel Kellman Placed On Unconditional Waivers

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Dec 15: Kellman has cleared waivers and will see his contract terminated.

Dec 14: The San Jose Sharks are going to part ways with Joel Kellman, as the minor league forward has been placed on unconditional waivers for the purpose of a contract termination according to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet.

Kellman, 27, is on the second season of a two-year deal signed in 2020 after an impressive transition to North American hockey. After going undrafted and playing for years in the SHL, he signed an entry-level contract with the Sharks in 2019 and played in 31 games during 2019-20. He had seven points and looked like he might be a valuable depth piece for San Jose moving forward.

The two-year contract he signed as an RFA carries a cap hit of just $750K but is one-way this season, meaning Kellman is earning $800K no matter where he plays. Given that has been exclusively at the minor league level, it makes sense for both sides to part ways. In 10 games with the Barracuda, he has four points and a contract termination will allow Kellman to return to the SHL or sign elsewhere overseas. Technically, he could also sign with another NHL team, but that seems unlikely in this case.

Thomas Bordeleau Missing WJC Due To Positive COVID Case

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  • It was announced over the weekend that Thomas Bordeleau won’t be competing for the U.S. at the upcoming World Junior tournament, and Eric Leblanc of RDS reports that it’s because the young forward tested positive for COVID-19. It’s a devastating outcome for the San Jose Sharks prospect, who missed last year’s tournament as well because his roommate–John Beecher–received a false positive just before the event began. Bordeleau is off to another great season with the University of Michigan, scoring 19 points in his first 18 games. This was his last chance at the World Juniors, as he’ll turn 20 in early January.

Snapshots: COVID Protocols, Rangers, Kane

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Even with over 99% percent of players and 100% of staff being vaccinated against the Coronavirus, the NHL has still been faced with constant issues battling COVID-19 this season. While only two teams have had games postponed due to COVID outbreaks, 19 different teams have had to enter heightened COVID protocols at some this season. As a result, the league is contemplating stricter protocols for all teams if the virus continues to be a problem. Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly tells TSN’s Chris Johnston that the NHL is currently working with league doctors to evaluate their COVID numbers and current protocols to see if changes can improve the state of the league’s battle with COVID. The NHL then plans to meet with the NHLPA soon to share their findings and to discuss options to better protect players and staff, as well as the league product. The COVID conversation will also impact the Olympic question, with understandable concerns from the league and players’ association about sending their stars to China given the ongoing spread of virus despite vaccination measures. The deadline for the NHL to pull out of the Winter Games in Beijing is January 10, so the upcoming meeting with the NHLPA could be a critical juncture for a decision.

  • Despite the havoc that the Coronavirus has wreaked on the past two NHL seasons (and counting), team valuations have somehow not just held strong, but in fact increased. Forbes published their 2021 NHL team values today with the impressive headline that the New York Rangers have become the league’s first $2 billion team. The Original Six franchise in the biggest market in North America increased in value by 21% from 2020 without making and significant improvement in their on-ice product. It bodes well for another potential jump next year, with the Rangers currently holding the best record in the Metropolitan Division. Unsurprisingly, New York is followed by fellow Original Six members in the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, Chicago Blackhawks, and Boston Bruins. Yet, it is not just the storied franchises who continue see growth in their value. On average, each team improved in value by 32% this year following a 2% dip the year before. The factors contributing to these soaring numbers are the league’s new media contract, their many new facilities, and of course the addition of their newest team, the Seattle Kraken. The recent sale of the Pittsburgh Penguins for $900 million also provided Forbes’ Mike Ozanian with a very up-to-date benchmark of actual real world value of a top franchise. While the optics of the past couple seasons – canceled games, limited attendance, temporary realignment – may portray a struggling league, the NHL has actually excelled in the face of adversity in their battle with COVID-19.
  • One player who is likely more familiar with financial terms that he ever hoped is San Jose Sharks forward Evander Kane. The controversial star has had quite the year with bankruptcy proceedings, a league investigation into illegal gambling, a league suspension for COVID Protocol circumvention and more. Kane has seemingly been losing money at every turn. However, he is now off his suspension and – though reassigned to the AHL – ready to get back on the ice and earning his pay check. Well, maybe not so fast. Curtis Pashelka of the San Jose Mercury News writes that the organization is not yet ready to give Kane any game action, even with minor league Barracuda. Pashelka writes that concerns about his conditioning, having missed training camp and the first quarter of the season, have limited Kane in practice and will keep him from competiting again this weekend. Pashelka also mentions an undisclosed injury and quotes Kane as being on board with a slow approach to returning to play. However, the scribe also touches on what is likely the root cause of Kane’s inaction: trade value. It does not appear as if Kane is welcome back in the Sharks’ locker room, but with three years remaining on a hefty contract, he needs to play somewhere. The consistent scoring forward is an established asset: high-end ability on the ice, red flags off the ice. San Jose is working the phones to find a new fit for Kane and won’t gain any leverage by having play in AHL game. However, they could lose out if he is injured. As a result, Kane could be used sparingly until he is eventually dealt elsewhere.

San Jose Sharks Sign Brandon Coe

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The San Jose Sharks have signed prospect Brandon Coe to an entry-level contract. Coe currently plays for the North Bay Battalion of the OHL, where he will remain through the end of this season. Sharks director of scouting Doug Wilson Jr. released the following statement about the team’s newest forward:

Brandon is a developing power forward with great skating ability. Last year he gained valuable experience playing in the AHL and we’re proud of how he has taken his offense to the next level this season. He’s leading the OHL in scoring and is a key player on a first place North Bay team.

Coe, 20, was a fourth-round pick by the Sharks in 2020, selected 98th overall after a strong performance in the OHL. He ended up playing in 17 games with the San Jose Barracuda last season on an amateur tryout while the junior league wasn’t in action, but returned to North Bay this season to be part of a dominant group.

In 24 games, he’s shown exactly why his return was such a huge boost to the Battalion’s OHL championship hopes. The 6’5″ forward has 46 points in those two dozen games, good enough to lead the entire league.

His year has only continued to get better with this entry-level contract, which will actually kick in for this season despite his assignment to junior. Once the OHL season ends, he’ll likely join the Barracuda once again to start his professional career.

Evander Kane Clears Waivers, Has “Multiple Options”

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San Jose Sharks forward Evander Kane has cleared waivers and is expected to be assigned to the AHL. Previous reports have made it clear that the Sharks would retain salary in order to facilitate a trade of the veteran forward, and Kane’s new agent Dan Milstein of Gold Star Hockey told Rick Dhaliwal of CHEK TV that there are “multiple options on the table.” Milstein even included the Vancouver Canucks specifically as one of the teams he will be contacting as he tries to get his client a new home.

Remember that once Kane is activated from his suspension, assigning him to the minor leagues will not remove his entire cap hit from the Sharks books, nor will it mean the team owes him any less in salary. His $7MM cap hit would only be reduced by $1.125MM and the remainder of his salary would need to be paid out. So far in the season his cap hit was removed because of the 21-game suspension he received for violating league COVID protocols, but that expired when the Sharks defeated the Chicago Blackhawks last night.

It’s unclear at this point whether Kane will actually suit up for the Barracuda, but perhaps playing AHL games would be beneficial to both sides if a trade is to be worked out. Of course, despite all of the off-ice issues that have followed Kane around for most of his career, he’s coming off an excellent season with the Sharks in 2020-21. In the team’s 56 games, he registered 22 goals and 49 points, the best per-game rate of his career.

Professional sports organizations are often willing to overlook off-ice (or field, or court) transgressions because of the skill of a player, and it is important to note that Kane was cleared of both the gambling and domestic abuse investigations that the NHL held this offseason. Whether a team will take the chance on him remains to be seen, but his time with the Sharks does appear to be over, at least for now.

Evander Kane Placed On Waivers

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Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman confirms that San Jose Sharks forward Evander Kane was placed on waivers Sunday for the purpose of assignment to the AHL.

After scoring 22 goals and 49 points in 56 games last season, Kane has yet to suit up for the Sharks after he was suspended without pay for 21 games for a violation of the league’s COVID protocols after the start of the season.

Kane’s had off-ice issues that have persisted for much of the last calendar year. A bankruptcy filing shadowed over his 2020-21 campaign, while multiple investigations into allegations of gambling and domestic abuse by the league occurred over the offseason. Contrary to the result of the suspension, he was cleared by the league on both of those allegations.

A veteran of 769 NHL games, Kane will be assigned to the AHL’s San Jose Barracuda if he clears waivers. If he reports, it would be Kane’s first time playing in the AHL. He made the jump straight to the Atlanta Thrashers from the WHL’s Vancouver Giants in 2009.

Whether Kane will ever return to the Sharks organization at the NHL level remains unclear. Multiple reports surfaced this offseason that many players couldn’t get along with Kane, and the team may not want to jeopardize what seems to be a positive developing culture as the younger team gets off to a hot start. Still, it’s not entirely out of the realm of possibility that Kane returns and suits up for the Sharks again.

His AHL assignment could be an effort to allow teams an opportunity to scout him and see him back in action before making a trade to acquire him. The Sharks have let it be known that they’re willing to retain salary in a trade.

Kane has four seasons remaining on a contract with a $7MM cap hit.

Curtis Pashelka of The San Jose Mercury News was the first to report this story.

Doug Wilson Taking Temporary Medical Leave

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The San Jose Sharks have announced that general manager Doug Wilson is taking a temporary medical leave from his day-to-day duties with the club. In the interim, assistant general manager Joe Will will be handling the daily operations.

Wilson, 64, was recently inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame for his outstanding contributions to the game as both a player and executive. Kevin Kurz of The Athletic tweets that Wilson has been dealing with a persistent cough since September, but this absence is not believed to be COVID-related.

Across the hockey landscape, fans, media, and players are extending their support for the Sharks GM. The staff at PHR is no different, and hope to see him back to work soon.

Sharks Willing To Retain Money To Facilitate Evander Kane Trade

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Anytime a player has significant term left on a contract, it’s difficult for a team to offer to retain salary to facilitate a trade.  They’re not able to pick and choose how much to retain and in what year; it’s a uniform amount of retention for the remainder of the deal.  Accordingly, it’s not very often that a player signed for several more seasons is moved with the trading team holding back some money.

One team that is open to being an exception to that appears to be San Jose.  Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports in his latest 32 Thoughts column that the Sharks are willing to retain on Evander Kane’s contract in order to try to help trade talks move along.  Kane has three years remaining on his deal with a $7MM AAV, a high price tag for many teams to try to add with so many being tight to the salary cap already.

Kane has yet to play this season after receiving a 21-game suspension from the league for using a fake proof of vaccination while their investigation into allegations made over the offseason could not be substantiated.  That suspension is nearing a conclusion and he has started to skate with GM Doug Wilson recently acknowledging that they haven’t decided what to do with him once he’s cleared to return.

Kane is actually coming off an impressive 2020-21 season that saw him lead San Jose in scoring with 22 goals and 27 assists in 56 games, good enough for the highest point per game average of his career.  Despite that, it’s far from a guarantee that he’ll be welcomed back.

The Sharks can retain up to 50% or $3.5MM of Kane’s cap hit but even with that, it seems unlikely that a suitable trade option will materialize right away.  At a minimum, teams will want to see Kane in action to see how he performs and how things go off the ice before making any sort of commitment to acquire him.  To that end, Friedman speculates that Kane could see some time in the minors which would allow the team some more time to determine their next steps and any potentially interested teams to do some evaluating.

In the meantime, San Jose’s 22nd game of the season is on Tuesday so while they have a few more days to figure out what their short-term plans are for Kane, they’ll need to make a decision soon.

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