One of the strange things about this NHL season is the cloud of complaints that surrounds Evander Kane, the San Jose Sharks, and the Edmonton Rocket. Kane had wrongly filed a previous termination request with the Sharks, while the Oilers had signed him, in the hope that things could be worked out and Kane could continue playing at Edmonton .
Looks like that would be the case, as Kevin Weekes of ESPN reports that a verbal agreement was reached between the Sharks and Kane. Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli Expands about the details, explained that the Sharks are expected to face a salary cap fee as a result of the settlement, although it is mitigating the risk that an arbitration decision could bring.
When his contract ended, Kane had three years and $19 million in salary left. His new four-year contract with Edmonton is worth $16.5 million more than those three seasons, leaving a difference of $2.5 million. Darren Dreger of the TSN . tweet that the deal is expected to “close” to that difference, although it is unclear how the cap will be applied at this time.
Even if it’s only $2.5 million spread over three seasons, it still makes sense. The Sharks are currently just under $250K below the cap cap with an expected 23-man roster, meaning any additional penalties will keep things tight this season. Of course, it’s the overriding option to have Kane’s entire contract on the books, which would be possible if he wins the case and gets reinstated.
The Sharks moved in from Kane quite a while ago, chasing him in the minor leagues from the start of last season until they could terminate his contract. He then joined the Oilers on a one-year contract and scored 22 goals and 39 points in 43 long-term games. He’s re-signed with Edmonton and now hits a $5,125 million cap through 2025-26.
