NHLPA to file grievance over San Jose Sharks’ intent to terminate Evander Kane’s contract
UPDATE: The NHLPA says they will be filing a grievance over the San Jose Sharks’ intent to terminate of Evander Kane’s contract.
We are aware of the San Jose Sharks’ stated intent to terminate Evander Kane’s contract. The NHLPA intends to challenge any such action by filing a grievance.
— NHLPA (@NHLPA) January 8, 2022Kane’s agent, Dan Milstein, wrote on Twitter that they would be filing a grievance and that “The Sharks do not have sufficient ground for taking this action.”
According to The Athletic’s Kevin Kurz, the Sharks were prompted, in part, to terminate Kane’s deal over allegations the player travelled to Vancouver while positive for COVID-19.
The Sharks’ Evander Kane contract termination stems primarily from him traveling to Vancouver while COVID positive, according to multiple sources.
— Kevin Kurz (@KKurzNHL) January 8, 2022ORIGINAL: The San Jose Sharks are preparing to terminate the remainder of Evander Kane’s contract.
On Saturday, DailyFaceoff’s Frank Seravalli reported that the Sharks placed Kane on unconditional waivers to do so.
#sjsharks Evander Kane is on unconditional waivers today for purposes of a contract termination.
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) January 8, 2022The forward was suspended for 21 games earlier in the year for producing a fake vaccination card in an attempt to skirt the league’s rule. In the offseason, the Sharks were reportedly trying to trade Kane due to strained relationships with many of his teammates.
According to the Sharks, they are terminating his contract “for breach of his NHL Standard Player Contract and for violation of the AHL COVID-19 protocols.”
There, allegations that Kane had a general “disrespect for team rules” such as being late for practices and games, and that it came with “zero consequences,” The Athletic’s Kevin Kurz reported.
Kane, who has appeared in 769 NHL games with the Atlanta Thrashers/Winnipeg Jets, Buffalo Sabres and Sharks, was assigned to the AHL’s San Jose Barracuda when his suspension ended. There, in five games, Kane scored two goals and eight points.
In his top-20 trade targets article airing earlier this week, Seravalli listed Kane as the 20th player on his list writing this:
Scoop: No shortage of ink has been spilled on Kane this season, who cleared waivers and was sent to the AHL by the Sharks in November after serving his 21-game suspension for submitting a fake vaccination card. So far, Kane has eight points in five AHL games with the Barracuda but has only played games in California. The Sharks have recalled eight forwards from the AHL since Kane was assigned there. Even with the Sharks being willing to engage a third party broker to reduce his cap hit to one quarter of what it is now, there is a toxic stench following Kane as he tries to resurrect his NHL career, with the feeling his contract is destined for a summer buyout if a deal does not materialize.
One has to wonder if this is the end of the line for Kane in the National Hockey League.
Zach Laing is the Nation Network’s news director and senior columnist. He can be followed on Twitter at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach@oilersnation.com.