San Jose Sharks
BREAKING: Kane Didn’t Bet on Hockey, Domestic Violence Investigation Ongoing
The NHL has found no evidence that Evander Kane gambled on San Jose Sharks or other league games.
In July, Anne Kane, Evander Kane’s estranged wife, accused the San Jose Sharks winger of betting on his own hockey games.
Last month, the NHL’s investigation into these allegations reportedly stalled because of Anna Kane’s refusal to cooperate with investigators.
Per the Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler LLP report, which was completed in conjunction with NHL Security:
“The investigation included a detailed review of social media, public data, and court filings from the bankruptcy proceeding initiated by Mr. Kane in January 2021 and his pending divorce proceeding; a review of sports betting data and analysis; and in person and virtual interviews of members of the Sharks organization and others, including Mr. Kane. It should be noted that Ms. Kane refused to participate in the investigation.
“The investigation uncovered no evidence to corroborate Ms. Kane’s accusations that Mr. Kane bet or otherwise participated in gambling on NHL games, and no evidence to corroborate the allegations that Mr. Kane ‘threw’ games or did not put forward his best effort to help the Sharks win games. To the contrary, the evidence raises doubts about the veracity of the allegations.
“While Mr. Kane denied the accusations, our findings are not based on these denials but instead on other evidence uncovered during the investigation.
“Our review of public and non-public documents relating to Mr. Kane, including data and analysis from a leading sports integrity service, and our interviews of those individuals most familiar with Mr. Kane’s on-ice performance over the past three seasons yielded no evidence to corroborate Ms. Kane’s allegations that her husband gambled on NHL games or ‘threw’ hockey games.”
Kane, however, isn’t in the clear yet.
Yesterday, Anna Kane accused Evander Kane of sexual assault and domestic violence.
Sheng’s Daily: Kane Accused of Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence
The NHL touched on these allegations in their press release today: “Additional unrelated allegations, however, involving potential wrongdoing by Mr. Kane have been brought to our attention. These allegations are being thoroughly investigated and the National Hockey League will have no further comment regarding their substance pending completion of that process.”
It’s worth noting: Anna Kane may have lied about Evander Kane betting on San Jose Sharks games, but that doesn’t mean her latest allegations are false.
As A.J. Perez of Front Office Sports tweeted: “The latest claims made by Evander Kane’s estranged wife came in court documents, not social media. It’s perjury to submit a fraudulent filing. (CA Code of Civil Procedure 2015.5) Perjury in California is punishable by up to four years in prison.”
San Jose Sharks training camp opened today, but media was limited to rights holder NBC Sports Bay Area. Based on Sharks’ social media, there’s no telling if Kane was on the premises or not. It’s also been reported that Kane’s teammates were dissatisfied with his hockey-related off-the-ice behavior last season and don’t want to share a locker room with him again.
The San Jose Sharks are expected to release a full training camp roster later today. Media, including San Jose Hockey Now, will be in attendance for the Sharks’ first on-ice sessions and media availability tomorrow.