It's hard to imagine San Jose Sharks forward Evander Kane regaining the trust of people invested in the NHL with the tumultuous time he is having off the ice. After getting cleared by the NHL for any illegal betting activities brought to the light by his estranged wife, Kane is now dealing with an entirely different issue, as he's just been dealt a 21-game suspension by the league for submitting a fabricated COVID-19 vaccination card.
Kane isn't just an ordinary player on the ice. Last season, he was the most effective scoring threat on the ice for the Sharks. He finished the 2020-21 NHL season with 22 goals to go with 27 assists for 49 points — all team-highs that campaign.
Despite missing Kane, the Sharks managed to start the 2021-22 season on a positive note by beating the Winnipeg Jets at home on Oct. 16, 4-3. Sharks head coach Bob Boughner was pretty direct on what he expects of his team with or without their top scorer a year ago.
Via Kevin Kurtz of The Athletic:
“We’re focused on the task at hand, and we’re worried about the 23 guys we have on our roster,” Boughner said after the win when asked how the team is going to get by without its leading scorer from last season. “So, we’ve got to get the best out of those 23 guys, and that’s the way we’re approaching it.”
With Kane suspended, the Sharks are trotting out a first line that consists of Jonathan Dahlen in the left wing spot alongside center Logan Couture, and right wing Timo Meier.
Kane still has four more years left on his current deal, including this season, that carries an AAV of $7 million.
Follow Us
Subscribe