Evander Kane to have Department of Player Safety hearing for boarding Nazem Kadri

Edmonton Oilers forward Evander Kane will have a hearing with the National Hockey League Department of Player Safety on Sunday to determine whether supplemental discipline is warranted for his hit on Nazem Kadri in Game 3 of the Western Conference Final.

Kadri left the game immediately after the play and did not return. Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar confirmed Kadri will miss “at least” the rest of the series against the Oilers as a result of the hit.

Kane was assessed a five-minute major penalty for boarding on the play, although he did not receive a misconduct. The hit occurred at the 1:06 mark of the first period in Game 3.

While Kane has not been assessed an on-ice suspension this season, the NHL did ban him for 21 games to start the 2021–22 campaign as a consequence of him committing an “established violation” of the league’s COVID-19 protocols.

That off-ice suspension was not handed out by the Department of Player Safety and will not impact its decision on Kane’s hit.

After Saturday’s game, Avalanche captain said he was “sure” the NHL would review the hit on Kadri.

 “I was on the bench but I don’t like it,” Landeskog said. “Those are the ones that kind of gives you the chills down your spine, and you’re taught from a young age that you don’t do that, and especially in that distance from the boards. It’s a dangerous play, and, yeah, I don’t know what else to say.”

The Avalanche won Game 3 of the Western Conference by a 4–2 score to take a 3–0 series lead over the Oilers. It remains to be seen whether Kane will be eligible to play for the Oilers in Game 4, which is slated to take place at Rogers Place in Edmonton on Monday evening.