Preview/Lines #36: Sharks, Barracuda Players React to Kane Termination

There’s a San Jose Sharks game tonight, but the big news is Evander Kane.

UPDATED: NHL Supports Sharks’ Attempt to Terminate Kane’s Contract

Bob Boughner, Scott Reedy, and Jaycob Megna commented on today’s shocking news. Reedy and Barracuda captain Megna played with Evander Kane on the San Jose Barracuda in December:

Bob Boughner, on his reaction to the Evander Kane news:

I was surprised to hear as everybody else. It’s obviously a management decision.

I say the same thing that we’ve been dealing with here for a long time when his name comes up, it’s not really a focus of this group, we’re focused with the guys we have moving forward. We’ll let other management decisions play out how they play out, but really, it’s not an issue for anybody here.

Boughner, on if this closes the book in the locker room on the Kane situation:

I think we’ve done that a long time ago. We understood the players that we’re going to have on our roster this year, the guys that we’re going to use, and we’ve been good at keeping that focus. We’ve just been concentrating on winning hockey games, hopefully developing the young guys as they’re here. Keep that team culture and identity. Unless you’re with us on our roster, nothing else really is a concern of ours.

Boughner, on if there had been a chance for Kane to come back to the Sharks before this news:

There’s really no comment for me to make. I understand the question. I think we decided a while back, we’re gonna focus on what we have. What other decisions that ownership or management makes is really not our business.

Boughner, on if he’s disappointed for Evander Kane:

For a head coach, would you want your maybe best offensive player in the line-up? Of course. But I understand the situation. I’m disappointed for him personally. I’d be like that for anybody.

For me, it’s just business as usual. I can’t focus on it, I can’t dwell on it. Concentrate on what we have and not on what we don’t have.

Scott Reedy, on what Kane was like as a teammate:

I think he tried his best to be a good teammate to us. He was a good influence on the ice and worked hard for us while he was there.

Jaycob Megna, on his reaction to the Evander Kane news:

I don’t know a whole lot about it. I haven’t been there in a couple of weeks. I haven’t seen him since before the Christmas break. So don’t really know what to make of it. But hopefully, it’s something where both sides can move forward now.

Megna, on his experience with Kane with the Barracuda:

Yeah, he was a pro. He showed up and when he was there, he worked hard and the games that he played in, I thought I thought he worked. He was a positive force on the ice for sure.

UPDATE: Tomas Hertl didn’t have much to say about Evander Kane when asked about his former teammate after the game.

Hertl didn't have much to say about the Kane news: "I don't know exactly what happened. I don't really look at stuff before the game. I was just focused on the game."

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) January 9, 2022

San Jose Sharks (18-16-1)

#SJSharks are not skating this morning, so we won't know their line-up until a couple hours before the game. It should be close to last game's, Hill starting, Karlsson/Couture/Middleton out

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) January 8, 2022

These were Thursday night lines:

No Karlsson or Middleton today. Mario Ferraro is back for the #SJSharks!

Get caught up on our preview of the #letsgobuffalo here:

📺https://t.co/SIpjbU3tBS
🎧https://t.co/wmyWBR90aU pic.twitter.com/rM4GlcFaf7

— The Content Boyz (@LockedOnSharks) January 6, 2022

But…

#SJSharks place C Nick Bonino, Assistant Coach John MacLean in the NHL's COVID-19 protocols. Logan Couture and Lane Pederson remain in the league's protocols.

— San Jose Sharks PR (@SanJoseSharksPR) January 8, 2022

Boughner says Nick Merkley will play center tonight with Bonino out — Reimer still out, Sawchenko will back up

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) January 8, 2022

Philadelphia Flyers (13-15-6)

Martin Jones will get the start, but the COVID-battered Flyers will be missing Claude Giroux, Ivan Provorov, Travis Konecny, and Travis Sanheim, who are all in protocol. Also, Sean Couturier, Ryan Ellis, and Nate Thompson are on IR.

Flyers Gameday Preview: 1/8/2022 vs San Jose; RIP Robbie Moorehttps://t.co/EVY61J6yEc pic.twitter.com/4rZVmTKpaZ

— Bill Meltzer (@billmeltzer) January 8, 2022

Where to Watch

Puck drop against Philadelphia is 4 PM PT at Wells Fargo Center. Watch it live on NBC Sports California and ESPN+. Listen to it on the Sharks Audio Network.