San Jose Sharks
SOURCE: Kane Meeting With NHLPA About Sharks’ Termination
The Edmonton Oilers are at home, but Evander Kane is in New York for San Jose Sharks-related business.
I’m told Kane is in New York for meeting. And it is in regards to San Jose termination of his contract. #Oilers
— Jason Gregor (@JasonGregor) April 18, 2022
The Sharks terminated Kane’s contract “for breach of his NHL Standard Player Contract and for violation of the AHL COVID-19 protocols” in early January. The NHLPA quickly filed a grievance on Kane’s behalf.
It’s San Jose Hockey Now’s understanding that Kane’s meeting today is with the NHLPA in preparation for that grievance hearing. The Oilers last played on Apr. 16 and are off until Apr. 20.
UPDATED for Apr. 19 — Kane met with the NHLPA yesterday — and the grievance hearing is today:
If the termination is upheld, that means the Sharks are free and clear of the $22.9 million dollars owed to Evander Kane over the next three years, both in terms of actual cash and on the cap. However, if San Jose loses the grievance, that entire amount, minus what Edmonton is paying him this year, is back on their cap.
The NHLPA told San Jose Hockey Now in February: “The hearing date will be scheduled before the end of the season.”
However, there’s no clarity yet on the exact date of the hearing. But clearly, the wheels are being set in motion if Evander Kane is in New York conferring with the NHLPA.
A league source told San Jose Hockey Now last month that they “likely will try to get it heard earlier” than the Draft, scheduled for Jul. 7-8 in Montreal.
That’s key because it’s a pivotal off-season for the San Jose Sharks, who will miss the playoffs for their third straight season, but are under the gun to quickly improve the team after re-signing Tomas Hertl to an eight-year, $65.1 million dollar extension. The cap-strapped organization will need all the cap space that they can get.
